Gloucester County Democrat., 1897-12-30
OBITUARY.

spent Law cold In death, Joseph H. keeVe
and Henry J Hepdrickson, were dead.
The Hon JOSEPH L. REEVES, whose
funeral took place on Monday afternoon
was one of the best known and honored
citizens Of Gloucester county, in which hil
entire lite was spent. He was a son o.
Joseph Reeves, who died in 1924, leaving q
widow who afterwards became Mrs. Mary
Jessup, another son, the late DR.. Thomas
Reeves, and daughter who became the
kins. On either side Mr.. Reeves was Of
distinguished lineage. The Thos. Reeves
who was born in 100 was the ancestor both
of the New Jersey branch of that name,
several members of which have served in
public offices, and of the Pennsylvania
branch which includes the well known
iron workers of Pbe1ixville, and has borne
an equally honored name in the sister State.
On the other side be caure of the Clarks,
early settlers and active citizens Of this
lneighborhood, whose name is commem.
GRATED in Clarksboro and to whose religious
devotion the founding and support of old
lSt. Peters church, Berkely is due As a
young man, Mr.. Reeves passed through a
varied but not unusual experience Of that
time as farmer, school teacher, and local
merchant, gaining in each of them high
reputation for his ability and sterling char
acter, and prepared by them for the larger
activities of his later life. The stirring
times Of the civil war brought him most
prominently and favorably into public
notice. At its outbreak he became an
Overseer of the Poor, and in this capacity
became charged with the duty of
looking after the maEy families who were
in a measure thrown upon the public care
in the absence of their natural protectors
who had volunteered for the defence of the
Union. To this duty Mr.. Reeves brought
not only his intense personal patriotism, but
his naturally generous and humane spirit,
and the sol tiers of this vicinity and their
families soon came to look on him as their
best and most Efficient friend. From that
time on the care of the widow and the
fatherless became to him cherished duty
Extremely accurate in all business transac-
tions, of unquestioned integrity, and with
la knowledge of the law of real estate and
of inheritaece not surpassed by that of pro-
fessional lawyers, his advice and services
were in constant demand as executor, ad
minstrator or trustee. There has perhaps
been no one in the county who has had
larger business of this kind, and certainly
none whose memory of these services has
been more gratefully cherished by those
who in the time of bereavement felt the
need of wise and trusted friend. Mr.
Reeves was an ardent Republican, and so
esteemed by that party that he could con-
idently rely upon its support, had he been
willing to give himself altogether to public
life.
From 1862 to 1865 he was Overseer of
the Poor; from 1864 to 1856, State Senator;
from 1862 to 1865. Chosen Freeholder from
Greenwich Township, and, AFTER the erec-
tion of East Greenwich Township, held the
same Office from 1881 to 1884. Efficient as
he was in these offices, and gratefully ap-
preciating the honors voted to him. official
life was not to his taste. The direct man.
agement of his fine farms, in which he was
eminently successful, and the conduct of
business affairs were the occupations which
he preferred.
In 1887 he Joined in the organization of
the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Wood
bury, and became its first President. Under
his liberal and yet conservative manage
ment the bank has been a successful insti-
tuition, and its loss in his death will be
severely felt.
Mr.. Reeves social instincts were very
decided. He was never happier than when
in social intercourse with his Ids, and
he had good Judgment in making friends
He enjoyed travel, aud on his journeys in
variably became intimately acquainted
with the better class of his fellow travellers,
and returned with keener "reminiscences Of
the people with whom he had conversed
than with the places he had seen. Strong
in his likes and dislikes he was most
loyal and steadfast friend, but character.
and not circumstances, was the condition Of
his friendship.
For many years Mr. Reeves was Vestry-
man and the Treasurer of st. Peters church.
BerkelY, at Clarksboro, and often repre-
sented it as delegate to the Diocean Con-
yention. To it he gave freely of his time
and his means, and until he removed to-
Woodbury. was constant in his attendance
at its services. In him its service always
found an earnest friend and loyal
supporter, aud two of them, whose united
terms have covered the last twenty FIVE
years, shared in the services at his funeral
He never became communicant- in the
church. but in words as we'll as as his deeds
declared his faith in the divine truth which
| it taught.
Until his fatal illness came, Mr.. Reeves
had epj ,yed almost uninterrupted good
health, aud bis long resistance to the
malady which caused his death was due to
splendid constitution, fortified by his
temperate and eeuable life His sufferings
were very great. but he endured them with
fortitude and patience that never failed
With unclouded mind and accurate mem-
ory, he directed from his sick bed the de-
tails of his various trusts until the very
last. In the home of his eldest daughter,
and tenderly united on by the children
who reverenced acd loved him, he closed
long, happy and honorable career and
on Monday was laid by the side of his
wife, and among the graves of his ancestors
for many generations. in the old family
burial ground at Tatems. A very large and
representative company was gathered at
his funeral. Their presence testified to
the regard in which he was held by the
whole community, which is poorer now by
the loss Of a good man, a good friend, and
good ci tizen
HENRY j. HENDRIcKsoN died on Fri
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