The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-04-24
William Dixon Reeves.

j anu South Carolina respectively. There
were six children: Mr.. FINS Reeves.
Mrs. Marion Pyles, Miss Sue Reeves,
Mr.. Edmund Reeves and Mrs. John
Adams. who were twins. Mr.. Reeves
was the third child.
He left the family when seventeen
years Of age and went to work in gen
eral store at Troy, Tenn. Two years
later the death OF bis father occurred
and he left the store to take up the re-
sponsibility Of supporting the family,
which be did by going into the logging
business and later into the sawmilI bus
mess.
| He came to Arkansas 10 1889 with
the Mcdonald Bros. and settled at La
Grange, where Reeves, Mcdonald 4
Co. operated large mill business until
January, 1894. Mr.. Reeves withdrew
at that time and removed to St. Louis,
but still operating his sawmill near
Helena and planning mill in the city,
and also engaging in the contracting
business.
Several OF the handsomest homes in
the city we're built by Mr.. Reeves, con-
tractor. In 1897, finding that his in
terests in this part OF the country were
too large to be away from, he returned
to Helena to reside. He then purchased
the river mill, which was known as the
old Moline plant, and soon afterward
acquired the Sawyer-M Mccoy plant The
Moline plant burned ia 1898 and was
Immediately rebuilt. The Sawyer-Mc-
Coy plant burned in 1907. This was
not rebuilt but was replaced by an cleo
trio power box factory and veneer plant
said to have beeu at that time the larg-
est and most complete ia the world.
AT various times he acquired large
timber interests and was an excellent
Judge Of such investments. In 1904 he
also engaged in the export business in
New Orleans, the firm being the Reeves
Powell Lumber Co. In 1908 he entered
into the cotton business With w. A.
Short, of this city.
He still continued his large sawmill
business though having these outside
affairs. He was man OF large and
varied interests, his sawmill necessitat-
ing the operation OF a large steamboat
line with numerous barges. He also
maintained numerous logging camps,
to each OF which he gave his individual
attention. 1t has been his practice for
years to be at his plant when the whistle
blew. Mr.. Reeves was possessed with
indomitable'energy and great endurance;
not infrequently on his long trips mar
keting his products he would be on the
sleeper for nine or ten successive nights,
but on his return to Helena he would
plunge at once into his business. When
the whistle blew the next morning he
would be there. AT such times hewould
limit himself to buttermilk diet, al
lowing himself to eat but little when
under severe strain.
Since the failure OF the Bank Of
Helena last spring Mr.. Reeves has
driven himself at high speed, " as he
has been carrying a tremendous load.
He had just succeeded in getting his
affairs so adjusted that his strain would
not be so great when the new levee was
built leaving his sawmill unprotected,
thus stopping bis entire manufacturing
plant Those who know him said that
il was the one thing that ever seemed
o check his indomitable will. 1t be-
came matter OF personal grief to him,
IS he felt that his long service to the
public OF Helena in all its various en-
,erprises was not appreciated. He was
/ man who had had wide experience IN |
caring for and nursing the sick, having !
earned this in his early life in the log !
ling camp, and he never failed to an
'wer the call OF the sick or afflicted for
lelp.
When he had regained consciousness
lfter being lifted from under his car,
md no one knew better than he the ex-
ent OF his injuries, he stated his spir- ]
tual willingness to go, though regret
ng 10 leave the great plan Of his bust
ness affairs unfinished.
Mr.. Reeves was man OF large vision
ind big ideas. There are but few men
Who could have carried the many de-
ails OF his business as he did. His
greatest recreation was to sit with his I
amily and rest, entertaining himself in !
m fha small details ~ the lsfo ri lie 4