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JAMES REEVES. 1784 - 1858
Author: J. H. Campbell
The subject of this imperfect sketch, was the son of a Baptist minister, Jeremiah Reeves, of North Carolina, who removed to Georgia and settled in Wilkes county. He had four sons, all of whom became Baptist preachers, Malachi, Jeremiah, (whose history also occurs in this volume,) John and James. The oldest, Malachi, was an eminently useful man in his day, and was contemporary with Jesse Mercer, Thomas Rhodes, and other distinguished characters. John was still living at last accounts, a very old man. He has been quite useful in his day.
James Reeves was born in Wilkes county, where he was brought up, and lived successively in Jasper, Butts, and Troup. His last move was to Carrol county, where he died, April 6th, 1858, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. "When converted, and by whom baptized, the writer has not been able to ascertain. It is believed he was about thirty when he commenced preaching, which was probably in Jasper county. He was twice married�first, to a Miss McElroy, and next to a Mrs. Phillips. He raised a large family of children, some of whom passed away to the better country in advance of their father, The characters of those who remain do no discredit to their parentage.
He was a praying man. He was never known to omit family prayer, when it was possible to attend to it; and if practicable, all his family must participate. The writer remembers an anecdote told of him in the early settlement of Troup county. The neighbors were accustomed to assist one another in building their log cabins, rolling logs, etc. Boards being in demand for covering a house, it was agreed that one party of men should meet at Mr. Reeves' for early breakfast, and another party at one of his neighbors, and thence sally forth for the day's work. Whichever party should find a suitable board-tree first, was to commence operations, not waiting for the other. Those who met at Mr. Reeves' were there by daylight, and were in a great hurry to get to work early. But no matter what the hurry was, family worship must be attended to first. The good man produced his Bible, and went through this service with due solemnity. Breakfast over, he and his party were not long in finding several first rate board-trees, on which they went to work with a will. It was growing late when the other party made their appearance, rather crest-fallen. "They had started out very early, (they said,) had felled several trees, but they had labored in vain, not having succeeded in making a single good board." Mr. Reeves kindly replied, "I fear you did not take time to pray before starting." Which was true, though some of them were professors of religion.
From his entrance into the ministry, he was ardently devoted to its sacred duties, and eminently successful in wining souls to Christ. He gloried in being a pioneer preacher, in searching out destitute fields, and in establishing and building up churches therein. It was this spirit that prompted him to leave his pleasant home in Jasper county, and settle for a time in Butts, which was then newly acquired territory. And then, when the tide of emigration swept still further westward, into Troup and adjoining counties, Mr. Reeves went forward with the emigrants, and with John Wood and other zealous and devoted servants of Christ, planted the cross in what was then comparatively a wilderness. They preached in the log cabins of the new settlers, and under temporary arbors constructed for the purpose, supplied the people with Bibles and tracts, and established Sabbath schools and temperance societies. Some of the most flourshing churches now in Troup and adjoining counties were organized by Reeves and his coadjutors. And all this work was done as a labor of love, for they had no hope or prospect of earthly reward. Their families were maintained by the labor of their own hands, or that of their servants, and they went forth, sowing the good seed of the kingdom, without cost to those who reaped the benefits thereof. It was the unrequited labors of such men that gave the Baptists the vantage ground in all that region. Let none imagine that this work was accomplished without opposition. The "anti-mission war" was raged in those days with a bitterness of which the present generation have but a faint conception. Mr. Reeves was as firm as a rock and as bold as a lion in favor of the truth on this subject. Hence, he came in for his full share of persecution and reproach. Though exeedingly mild in spirit; and affable in manner, his adversaries found him ever ready to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints."
Mr. Reeves was a Bible preacher. He was frequently called a living concordance. His familiarity with the sacred oracles was doubtless the result of a habit which prevailed among the fathers of our Baptist Israel in Georgia, much more generally than among the preachers of this generation�the habit of daily reading and studying the Word. They read the Bible more than any other book. Indeed, many of them read scarce anything else. The consequences were, that their sermons abounded with scripture quotations and illustrations, they were more fully established in the doctrines of grace, and they preached with an unction which nothing but the word and spirit of God can impart.
Our brother was remarkable for punctuality in all his engagements, whether secular or religious. No man enjoyed in a higher degree the confidence of those with whom he had dealings. When the time arrived for him to start off to his preaching appointments, neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet prevented his going. His benevolence knew no bounds. The poor he never turned away empty. If they had money to pay for provisions, they got them. If not, they got them any how. If there was not sufficient for the rich and poor, he invariably gave the preference to the latter.
Old age neither dampened the ardor nor restrained the zeal of Mr. Eeeves in the great work to which he had so faithfully devoted his life. A friend, who visited him in March, 1858, says, in substance: "The time for his departure was drawing nigh. He was fully sensible of- this, but talked as calmly about it as if he was going on a journey. His only desire to live longer was that he might preach the gospel. He manifested more concern for the conversion of his attending physician than for his own recovery. Throughout his sickness, he ceased not to exhort and counsel all who came about him, whether saints or sinners. Among his last words were, that, although he felt no great ecstacy in view of death, he had an abiding faith that all was well. As his last hour approached, he rose from his bed, though-greatly debilitated, and asked to be helped to a seat near the fire, so that he might have family prayer once more. Having requested a brother Burke, who was present, to take up and complete his prayer should his breath fail, he agonized long and fervently in that last offering which he made as priest of his household. It was noticed by his friends that he made most fervent appeals for his country�that country which was so soon to be deluged with blood. Having given all necessary directions about his temporal affairs, designated the text from which he wished brother Burke to deliver his funeral discourse, (2d Timothy, chapter ,iv. 6, 7 and 8 verses,) he calmly fell asleep in Jesus, and was gathered, 'as a shock of corn fully ripe,' into the garner of the Lord." The author has known, but few as good men as James Reeves.
Additional Comments:
From:GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
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