Reeves family Records, 1850-1905

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Records, 1850-1905, of the Reeves family of South Boston, Halifax County, Virginia. Included are accounts and receipts, broadsides, catalogs and price lists, correspondence, deeds, ledgers, memorandum books, publications, and reports. The records mainly relate to Isaac J. Reeves, a farmer and wheelwright, and his son, William T. Reeves, a pharmacist in South Boston, Virginia.

Included are accounts and receipts, 1858-1901, for insurance, wagon repairs, hardware, and groceries from stores in Danville, Richmond, and South Boston, Virginia. Also included is a deed and survey for land in South Boston and several memorandum books. Publications relating to the Temperance movement, Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias of Virginia, Republican Party, and the Independent Order of Good Templars are also included.

Of note are the advertisement cards, broadsides, catalogs and price lists from companies in South Boston, Danville, and Richmond, Virginia. The catalogs and price lists are divided into categories: agriculture, machinery and carriages, medical supplies, music and art supplies, and religious. The musical catalogs were used to purchase a new organ for the Methodist Church in South Boston. The catalogs are of note because they document many companies which are no longer extant in Virginia. Some of the companies include: Allison & Addison (Richmond, Va.); A.B. Clarke (Richmond, Va.); Edwards, Noblin & Co. (S. Boston, Va.); G.E. Faulkner (S. Boston, Va.); Frank Tobacco Co. (Danville, Va.); Greensboro Handle Works (Greensboro, NC); Louisville Hub, Spoke and Wheel (Louisville, KY); James McGraw (Richmond, Va.); Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works (Richmond, Va.); Simpson & Brothers (Richmond, Va.); and G.F. Watson Furniture Works (Richmond, Va.). Also included are various "get rich quick" flyers in the oversize folder.

The ledgers include account books for Blount and Reeves, wheelwrights; personal ledgers of Isaac J. Reeves; an account book of Sons of Temperance, Falmouth Division No. 388; a railway freight account book; and Salem church Sunday school records. Also of note are drawings of several South Boston homes and businesses by an unknown artist.

Biographical / historical:

Isaac J. Reeves (1819-1892) was a farmer in South Boston, Halifax County, Virginia. He also owned a blacksmith shop and was a partner in Blount and Reeves, wheelwrights. He was married to Lucy M. Reeves (1823- 1901). Their son, William T. Reeves (1861-1933) was a pharmacist in South Boston.

Acquisition information:
Gift of William R. Dunn, Lynchburg, Virginia, June 1967.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Physical description:
1.35 cu. ft. (3 boxes and 1 oversize folder)