1890 Delaware and Buchanan Counties History pgs.
273-274
CHARLES E. REEVE, one of the prominent and
successful busines men of Hopkinton, is a native of Lorain county, Ohio, and was born June
3,1841. His father, William Reeve, was born in England, June 8, 1794.
He was a shepherd and drover in his native country. In 1830,
he came to the United States, settling in Sheffield, Lorain county, Ohio, and engaged in farming. He died in 1871, after a residence of forty-one years in this country. He
was a strong robust man, of moral habits and even temperament. He was for many years a member of the
Methodist church, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all
who knew him. The mother of our
subject bore the maiden name of Sarah Warden, and was also a native of England, born in 1800. She was a Christian woman, but never
identified herself with any church. She died in 1856, aged fifty-six
years. These, William and Sarah (Warder) Reeve, were the parents of nine
children, eight of whom are now living—John, the eldest, was born
October 7,
1822. He
is a carriage-maker by
occupation. He is married, and the father of three
children, being now a resident of Cleveland, Ohio. William F., born June
24, 1823,
is a resident of Hopkinton. He has
been married, but has no children.
Thomas is a farmer, residing in
Hopkinton. He is married and
the father of two children. Joel lives
in Columbus, Ohio, and is a merchant. Isaac F. is
also a farmer, and lives in Hopkinton. He is married and has two children.
Henry, born 1834, lives in Lawrence county, Ohio. He is a carpenter and farmer, is
married and has three children. Elizabeth E., born in 1836, lives in Van Home,
Benton county, Iowa, and is the wife of P. D. Smith, a
lumber dealer. She is the mother of four children.
Charles E.
Reeve, the subject proper of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and received a
good common-school education. He attended Oberlin College a few terms and spent one or two
terms in the Berea University.
At the age of twenty-one, he
served an apprenticeship with a photographer at Columbus, Ohio, where he attained quite a
proficiency in that art. After two years spent in the state capital of the Buckeye
State,
he returned to Lorain county, but soon started West on a
prospecting tour. He came to Delaware county, Iowa, looked the country
over and was quite well pleased with its appearance. He then went to Michigan
and traveled for a wholesale confectionery house, and then clerked one
year in a grocery store. He finally
returned to his home, in Lorain county, Ohio, where he was variously engaged for
a year. He spent much of his time, however,
taking care of his father, who was suffering from the effects of a severe
illness. After his father's death he
and a brother left for Colorado, where they expected to put in a
bid for furnishing beef for the soldiers at Fort Lyons.
They reached the place too late, however, and immediately returned,
coming to Hopkinton, where Mr. Reeve opened a meat market. During his business career twenty-one
competitors started up in opposition to him and failed for want of patronage.
He has dealt honestly with all, and has at all times kept the best that money
could buy.
Mr. Reeve
married April 3, 1873, taking to wife Miss Emma Root,
daughter of Captain Aaron Root, a native of Massachusetts. Her father was for many years a
sea captain, sailing once across the Atlantic, and was on Lake Erie for many years. He owned several
vessels, and later in life owned a large tract of land near Crown Point, Ind. He was born in 1801 and died in
1864. Mrs. Reeve's mother was Ester Buck, who was born in New York State, and died in 1872. She was the
mother of ten children, six of whom are now living. She was a member of the
Methodist church and lived a consistent. Christian life.
Mr. and
Mrs. Reeve have had born to them four children, viz.—Edward, born June 12,
1874; William R., born February 19, 1878; Shirley A., born December 27, 1884,
and Harrison M., born June 6, 1888. Mr. Reeve is a republican in politics, and
has always supported the ticket of that organization. He has always been an
active worker for the success of the party of his choice, and has at times been
connected with the county central committee. He has served as a member of the
town council of Hopkinton for six years, but has never been an aspirant for
public positions. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the
Iowa Legion of Honor and the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Reeve
owns eighty acres of land adjoining Hopkinton, and is one of the successful and
prosperous men of Delaware county. He came here with limited
means, and by his industry and economy he has succeeded in accumulating a considerable
amount of this world's goods. He owns a handsome residence, which is neatly and
tastefully furnished throughout.
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