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Below is a family biography included in History of Lee County, Iowa published by Western Historical Company in 1879.  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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REEVES, MANASSEH, merchant and merchant tailor, Montrose; Mr. Reeves was born in Ohio in 1830; he came to Montrose in 1850, and engaged in the tailoring business, which he still continues in connection with a general mercantile business. He married in 1851 Chloe M. Tolle, a native of Kentucky; born in 1831; they have six children — Alice E., Eugene, Julia W., Edmund H., Harry B. and Nellie; have lost two children. Mr. Reeves, thrown upon his own resources at the early age of 9 years, is an example of what may be accomplished without the advantages of early education, by energy and honest industry. Mr. Reeves came to Montrose when quite a young man, with no capital but a trade, good health, and a determination to succeed; he has built up a good trade, and acquired a fine property in Montrose; an experience in the life of Mr. Reeves, proving that surely “truth is stranger than fiction,” deserves mention here; when he was but 2 years of age, his mother became insane, and was removed to an asylum; she was soon after reported to be dead; her children grew to manhood and womanhood, and passed on to middle life, never doubting (with one exception) that their mother had passed from this life when they were in their early childhood. Mr. Reeves could never remove the impression from his mind that his mother still lived; after forty years in some mysterious way, it was revealed to the subject of this sketch that his mother still lived; an investigation proved the truth of the revelation, and his long lost mother was restored to her children, as from the dead, and enjoyed their kindest care and affection for several years after.

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This family biography is one of 668 biographies included in The History of Lee County, Iowa published in 1879.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Lee County, Iowa family biographies: Lee County, Iowa Biographies

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