John Tyler Reese
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 9 Nov 1841 - Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama Christening: Death: 15 Jan 1929 - Belton, Texas 1 Burial: in North Belton Cem., Belton, Bell Co., Texas Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Hubbard N. Reese (Abt 1823-1889) Mother: Sarah Mayfield (Abt 1818-Abt 1856)
Spouses and Children
1. *Georgia Ann Pendarvis (Oct 1844 - 27 Jul 1922) Marriage: 9 Sep 1863 - (Texas) Children: 1. Lorenzo Reese (Abt 1865- ) 2. Henry Reese (Abt 1869- ) 3. Beulah Reese (1870-1955) 4. Joe Reese (Abt 1872- ) 5. Conway Reese (Abt 1875- )
Notes
General:
CENSUS:
In 1860 J. T. Reese (19, Al, --/$18) is a farm hand living in the household of David Jordan (162/164) in Freestone Co., Texas, p.o. Fairfield. His father H. N. Reese lives at 174/177.
<pre>1870 Bell Co., Texas, Belton Precinct No. 1, p.o. Belton; July 18; pg 3
21/23
J. T. Reese 29 MW Al $10000/$2000 Farmer
Georgann " 24 FW Ga Keeping house
Lorenzo " 6 MW Tx
Henry " 1 MW Tx </pre>
<pre>1880 Bell Co., Texas, Belton, ED 1; June 2; pg 11
80/93
Jno. T. Reese 38 Al Al Al Saloon-Keeper
Georgia Ann " 33 wife Ga SC SC House Keeper
Lorenzo " 15 son Tx Al Ga at school
Beulah " 10 dau Tx Al Ga at school
Joe " 8 son Tx Al Ga
Conway " 5 son Tx Al Ga </pre>
<pre>1900 Bell Co., Texas, Precinct No. 1, Belton, ED 17; June 8; sheet 9
177/177
J. T. Reese Oct 1841 58 M36 Al Al Al Cotton Buyer
G. A. " wife Oct 1844 55 M36/6/2 Ga Ga Ga </pre>
He owns an unmortgaged home.
OBITUARY:
JOHN TAYLOR REESE
Another veteran of the Southern Confederacy dropped out of the decimated, thin grey line last Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock when John Taylor Reese answered the call to come over the river and rest. Funeral services were held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. T. Hamp Birdwell, in this city on Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. E. O. Townsend, assisted by Pastors Campbell and Council; after which, the flag-draped casket was tenderly carried to its last resting place in the North Belton cemetery.
Mr. Reese was born in Tuscaloosa county, Alabama, on the ninth of November, 1841. Soon after coming to Texas in 1863, he joined Company I, 18th Texas Cavalry, assigned to Churchill's Division.
He was married on September 9th, 1863 to Miss Georgia Ann Pendarvis, who preceded him to the grave on July 27th, 1922. Six children came to bless this union, of whom two survive: Mrs. Birdwell of this city and Renzo Reese of Bartlett. Wesley Reese of Austin, a brother, also survives, and was present for the funeral. Nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren are likewise left to mourn the passing of this good old man.
Mr. Reese came to Belton after the war, and spent most of his years as a Belton citizen. He was for many years a cotton buyer here, and several years ago opened a grocery store on Main Street, to which he gave his attention for long hours each day, despite his advanced age. He left the store some months ago, and had since made his home with his daughter on North Wall Street.
Early in life Mr. Reese united with the Baptist church; and his example of regular attendance upon its worship, even after he was weighted down with the infirmities of nearly ninety years, was a constant inspiration to his pastor and to his fellow members. Though handicapped by partial deafness, he was always in his place on Sunday mornings, unless too ill to get to church; and when special offerings were made, the pastor was sure of his contribution.
His passing removes another of those pioneer citizens of this city, whose lives link the present with the past; and takes from the community one whose quiet, kindly courtesy was typical of the days when Southern chivalry dominated the actions of merchants and professional men and planters all alike, and made the dealings of man with man more leisurely and more enjoyable than in this abrupt, rushing age. Peace to his ashes, and potency to the memory of his example in business and religious life!
FAMILY BIBLE:
The following entries are from a Birdwell family Bible which at one time was in the possession of Don Sutton:
Georgia Ann Reese departed this life in July 27, 1922 -- age 78 years
J. T. Reese died Jan. 15, 1929 -- age 87 years
NAME:
John Tyler Reese was born in November, 1841 while John Tyler was president. He was obviously named for the president.
CONFEDERATE PENSION:
The Texas State Archives contains a set of documents related to John Tyler Reese's application for a confederate pension initially submitted on July 21, 1928. He says he enlisted in March 1862 and that he was discharged in May 1863 as a consequence of having been seriously injured. He served 15 months in Company "I" of Col. Darnell's regiment of the 18th Texas Cavalry. On July 30 the War Department said that according to its records there was no J. T. Reese in Company "I". There was a T. J. Reese who enlisted in Company "K" March 1, 1862 at Athens, Texas.
On August 16, 1928 J. T. Reese made the following sworn statement before Owen P. Carpenter, the County Judge of Bell County:
Before me, Owen P. Carpenter, County Judge of Bell County, Texas, on this day personally appeared J. T. Reese, known to me to be a credible person, who being by me duly sworn did depose and say as follows, to-wit:
My name is J. T. Reese and I live in Belton, Texas, and I am the same J. T. Reese who filed application for a pension with the Comptroller of the State of Texas by virtue of having been a Confederate soldier during the War between the States, and for the purpose of clarifying the application which has heretofore been filed by me with said Comptroller at Austin, Texas, I wish to state I could easily be mistaken about the letter of the Company in which I served and more than likely it was Company "K" instead of Company "I" of the 18th Texas Cavalry, for I did enlist as a Confederate soldier in the 18th Texas Cavalry at Athens, Texas about the first of March, 1862.
I was acquainted with practically every member of the 18th Texas Cavalry and with practically everybody who lived in the County and there was no "T. J. Reese" who served in Company "K" of the 18th Texas Cavalry; and affiant states that undoubtedly the "T. J. Reese" referred to in the records furnished by the War Department relating to T. J. Reese is in truth and in fact the record of your petitioner who actually did serve as a soldier in the Confederate Army as stated in his original application.
Affiant further states that there was only one Company organized at Athens, Texas at that time, which went into the 18th Texas Cavalry.
Witness my hand at Belton, Texas, this 16th day of August, A.D. 1928.
J. T. Reese [signed]
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16th day of August, A.D. 1928.
Owen P. Carpenter [signed]
County Judge, Bell County, Texas
Also on August 16, Judge Carpenter wrote a letter to the Comptroller in Austin which reads as follows:
I wish to state in regard to the above affidavit that I know J. T. Reese of Belton, Texas, affiant named above, and I know for a fact that he is a very credible and trustworthy gentleman in every sense of the word and I am positive that he would not misrepresent any fact whatever for the purpose of obtaining a pension, and I am of the opinion that any declaration made by him should be received as stating the truth.
On August 17 the Comptroller wrote Judge Carpenter a letter in which he stated that on the basis of the affidavit of J. T. Reese and the report of the War Department, he was approving Mr. Reese's application for a Confederate Pension.
The cover page for all of the documents says that the "Soldier's Application for a Pension" was filed August 8, 1928, that it was approved August 17, 1928, and that the pension was allowed from June 1, 1928.
On August 14, 1928 J. T. Reese sent the following handwritten letter to the Comptroller. The handwriting is hard to read, there is no punctuation, and some parts are not very coherent. It is on the stationary of his store.
J. T. REESE CASH GROCER
Staple and Fancy Groceries
Confectioneries and Fruits
Comptroler
Austin Tx --
Dear Sir
Your letter of Recent date has bin Received and noted and I find the Record So very untrue I thought Best to write you a full Statement of the Regment untill I was Discharged I Joined Capt Manion Company first of March 1862 that Company Joined Col Darnell Regment the Regment was all (12) months ___ Texas Cavelry Col Darnell Regments the Regment was organized at Playno Collin County we was ordered to Sherman after some time we was ordered to Cotton Plant crossing Red River west of Sherman we camped on Big Blue River in Choctow Nation there went Gen Ben McCallough who was kill in Battle at Cotton Plant the was some talk of the Indians Rising up against the South Since the Regment was stationed there for some time but was finally ordered Fort Smith only countermanded and we was ordered to cross Red River at Fulton and Join the army ___ of the Missisippi but we had to come back on east Sid of Red River to get Forage for the Horses at Clarksvill we stoped to have the Horses all shod Measels Brok out among the men. Quite a number of them Died they could not be taken cear of I taken the measels went to Hospittle lay on the floor with one Blanket under me for bed I was in Hospittle for long time before I was able to ______ after I got my Discharge late in 1862 for a year or more I was unable to do anything my arm hanging by my Sid ded So to speak and today gives me much Troubble and I have not bin able to find anyone in Milam County that know anything of Darnells Regment that being (66) years Since the war My Brother W T Reese who lives in Austin Holly Street No. 2115 was Small but he well Remembers hearing my Fathers Family talking about I being in the army he allso knows that my wife lived in my my Fathers home and her first child was borned in Fathers House while I was in the army he will testify to that my Fathers Family are dead but I and him I am (87) years old have bad case of asma Badly Ruptured not able to do any work my Self I was debard by law when I could have all the Proof necesary I was arrested in Houston in the latter Part of 1865 and forced to take the amnesty oath I had Bought Stock of goods they would not let me Ship the goods untill I take Paroll oath I was then living in Milam County Texas now if the is any thing els that I mite able to Explain I will gladly do So I thought best to write you fully about the movement of the Regment
Respt
J T Reese
1 "Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 11176234.
2
Birdwell Family Bible, unpublished, Repository: Don Sutton.
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