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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN REAVIS, who owns one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 27, township 46, range 25, Johnson County, has lived on this place uninterruptedly for the past forty-four years. In 1851 he entered forty acres of his present farm, and as his resources permitted invested in more land, until his farm reached its present dimensions. One hundred and twenty acres of the place are under cultivation, and a large portion of it was cleared by Mr. Reavis himself, who cut logs and built a cabin, and there made his home until 1894, when he erected his modern residence.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were Mark and Lucy (Bradley) Reavis, who were born, grew to maturity, and were married in Kentucky. Afterward settling in Boone County, Mo., Mr. Reavis purchased a farm, and besides assisting in its management operated a horsemill for grinding grain. He was an extensive slave-owner in early days, but was a kind master. He died in Boone County at a venerable age, as did also his esteemed wife. They were the parents often children. Edwin died on the old farm near Bowling Green, Ky.; Jones married Hannah Modiset, and died in Monroe County, Mo.; James is our subject’s father; Daniel married Eliza Chappel, of Boone County, Mo., and is now deceased; Andrew, a farmer, died in Saline County, Mo., in 1841; Overton died while on his way to California, and his wife, formerly Nancy Berry, died in Saline County; Doctor married Delilah Carey, and died in Saline County; John married Elizabeth Preston, and is a farmer of Monroe County, Mo.; Martha became the wife of Milton D. Berry, and now makes her home in Greenwood County, Kan., where her husband’s death occurred; and Polly married William Ward, and both died in Pettis County.

The maternal grandparents of John Reavis were John and Betsy (Harris) Berry, both natives of Madison County, Ky., where they continued to reside for several years after their marriage, later emigrating to Boone County, Mo. Of their nine children, Thomas married Eliza Lemons; Milton wedded Martha Reavis, who survives him, and is now living in Kansas; Tyra was three times married, his last wife having been a Miss Nancy Adams, who is also deceased; Hickison H. married Jean Lemons; Robert H. married Miss Mary Ann Patterson, who lives on a farm near Warrensburg; Eliza, our subject’s mother, is the next in order of birth; Nancy became the wife of Overton Reavis, and is now deceased; Lucy became the wife of Edwin Reavis, and has since been called from this life; and Betsy first married Preston Patrick, and after his death became the wife of William Chapman. They are now living on a farm near Brownsville, Mo., Mrs. Chapman being the only survivor of her parents’ large family.

James Reavis was born in Warren County, Ky., in 1800, and his wife, Eliza, was born five years later, in Madison County, in the same state. Mr. Reavis left the parental roof in his early youth and entered land in Saline County, Mo., living there for about sixteen years. He then located in Pettis County, Mo., where he entered eighty acres and made some improvements on the place during the seven years of his residence thereon. Later coming to this county, he purchased forty acres of land on section 30, Warrensburg Township, but a few years later returned to Pettis County. After a time he came back to this locality and invested in forty acres, but again his inclinations compelled him to return to the old neighborhood in Pettis County, where he bought forty acres, which he cultivated as long as his health permitted. Selling out, he lived with his children from that time until his death, which occurred October 17, 1874. His wife’s demise occurred July 13, 1878. Of their union were born eleven children. Elizabeth, born in 1823, married Thomas C. Warren, after whose father the town of Warrensburg was named; our subject is the second of the family; Woodson, born in 1828, and now living in Washington, married Sallie A. Jennings, since deceased; Sarah Jane, now a resident of Oregon, first married Henry Howdyshell, and later became the wife of Louis Garrett, both of whom are deceased; Mark, born in 1833, died in July, 1886, and his widow, formerly Betty Hayes, is now living in Washington; Hettie, wife of E. L. Porter, lives in Bates County, Mo.; James died at the age of twenty-one years; Anne Eliza became the wife of T. J. Coatney, a farmer of this county; Josephine wedded Z. T. Hayes, and lives on a farm in this county; Preston P. married Laura Woulery, and is now in Claremore, Ind. T.; and Mary Frances died when two years of age.

The birth of John Reavis took place in Boone County, Mo., September 27, 1826. When his parents moved to Pettis County, in 1844, he embarked in business for himself, and, coming to this county, obtained work from Martin Warren, splitting rails at forty cents per hundred, besides assisting in work on the farm. December 22, 1847, he married his employer’s granddaughter, Loretta Warren, who was born in this county March 22, 1826. Her parents, Martin and Nancy (Hubbard) Warren, were natives of Virginia, but were married in Kentucky, and later moved to Lafayette County, Mo., where they lived for several years. Then, coming to this county, Mr. Warren entered land four miles east of our subject’s present home. This was before Warrensburg was founded, and Mrs. Reavis remembers well the first house that was built there. Her father afterward spent several years in Gentry County, Mo., but later returned to this county, and here he died in 1840. His wife’s death occurred in Lafayette County in May, 1833. They had four children, of whom our subject’s wife is the youngest; Joel H., a practicing physician at Knobnoster, Johnson County, married Sallie Warren, who is now deceased; Mary C. became the wife of Samuel Porter, now of Cass County, Mo.; and Sallie D. married Madison H. Burnett, but both have been called from this life.

After his marriage John Reavis worked on farms in various parts of this county until he had saved a sufficient sum of money to enable him to buy forty acres in Pettis County. He lived there only three years, however, and since 1851 has cultivated his present homestead. His school advantages in youth were very meager, and, feeling the need himself, he has made it a point to give his children good advantages. For several years he has been School Director in this district. For five months during the war he was a member of the militia, and in early days was a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party espoused its principles.

To Mr. and Mrs. Reavis were born ten children, as follows: Mary Eliza, March 2, 1849; William, August 19, 1851; Thomas L., September 12, 1852; Martha Jane, February 10, 1854; Joel W., November 11, 1857; Nanny E., July 24, 1860; Sallie J., January 17, 1863; Annie Viola, December 17, 1865; Etta, February 28, 1868; and Allie, June 2, 1871. The eldest daughter became the wife of M. L. Box, and is now living in Indian Territory; William died in infancy; and Sallie J., who was the wife of Squire Coates, of Warrensburg, departed this life October 7, 1 886; Thomas E., who is farming in this township, married Etta Millard; Martha J., also of this district, is the wife of C. T. Hull; Nanny married William P. Dyke, of Warrensburg; Annie is Mrs. M. L. Krebs, and lives on a farm in Greeley County, Neb.; Etta, Mrs. George Adams, resides in Oklahoma; and Allie, wife of Wesley Hunter, is a resident of this township. Mrs. Reavis has long been a member of the Christian Church, and is beloved by all who know her.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Johnson County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Missouri family biographies here: Johnson County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Johnson County, Missouri here: Johnson County, Missouri Map

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