REEVES, Oscar Lee - Putnam

No business man in Greencastle is regarded with higher favor than Oscar Lee Reeves, superintendent of the water works, who, while looking to his own interests, does not neglect to discharge his duties in fostering the upbuilding of the community in general, and while yet a young man he has proven that success comes to the persistent and the deserving. Mr. Reeves was born June 8, 1878, on a farm seven miles northeast of Greencastle. His parents were William A. and Martha E. (McClary) Reeves. The father was born in Monroe township, Putnam County, in 1834 and he lived in this County all his life. He devoted his attention to farming and was a quiet, honest, home-loving man whom everybody respected. He served in the Union army during the Civil War for about eight months, in Company K. Sixty-third Reginient Indiana volunteer Infantry. His death occurred on November 26, 1893. The parental grandfather of Oscar L. Reeves was Stacy Reeves, a native of Kentucky, where he spent his youth and from which state he came to Putnam County, Indiana, at an early date, and spent the remainder of his life here: he was one of the County's hardy pioneers, and thus the Reeves family has been a well known one in this County for several generations. The subject's mother was born in Kentucky, from which state she came to Putnam County, Indiana, with her parents. James and Sally Ann McClary, when a young girl, her family locating on what is known as the old McClary homestead in Monroe township, about seven and one-half miles northeast of Greencastle. Her mother is living with her daughter at Bainbridge, this County. To Mr. and Mrs. William A. Reeves six children were born, named as follows; Orlando is an express messenger on the Monon railroad and lives at New Albany, Indiana; Cordelia is the wife of C. K. Priest and is living six miles north of Greencastle: Sallie Ann died June 3, 1891; Homer E. is assistant superintendent of the Central Union Telephone Company at Indianapolis: Margaret T. is the wife of E. M. Hinkle, of Bainbridge, Indiana; Oscar Lee. of this review. Mr. Reeves spent his youth on the home farm, where he was early assigned work in the fields, attending the neighboring schools in the winter time, remaining by the paternal fireside until 1900. He turned his attention to the mercantile life wiien a boy and from 1900 to 1904 was in the employ of the Cooper Brothers, in their hardware store. He then engaged in the plumbing business for himself, maintaining a very successful establishment in Greencastle until April 1909, when he became superintendent of the Greencastle Water Works Company, which position he now holds and to which he is faithfully and satisfactorily devoting his exclusive attention, giving the utmost satisfaction in every respect to all concerned. Mr. Reeves was married on November 14, 1900, to Clara Lee Hillis, daughter of James M. and Martha L. Hillis. a well known family of Monroe township, this County, where Mrs. Reeves' birth occurred on July 27, 1880. This union has resulted in the birth of two children. Byron H., born May 15, 1903. and Gilbert M., born October 5. 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves are members of the College Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Reeves is a member of the Benevolent and Protctive Order of Elks and he votes the Republican ticket.