Morgan Reaves
Injury Fatal to
Civil War Veteran
Story furnished by Clarence
Crocker
According to a news
article appearing in the evening edition of the Carolina
Spartan, Wednesday February 8, 1928; “Injuries
sustained several years ago proved fatal to Morgan
Reaves, Veteran of the War between the States. At 87
years of age, he was the oldest resident of the Glendale
neighborhood and died at his home at an early hour this
morning.
Morgan was born and reared in the neighborhood in which
he died. Enjoying the best of health, Morgan was
exceedingly active for a man of his advanced age until
stricken by the accident in 1921 which left him unable
to leave his bed. At the age of eighty, Mr. Reaves
dislocated one of his hips as a result of a fall.
Failing to respond to the treatment rendered, the hip
left him practically an invalid.
At the age of 19, Morgan enlisted in the service of the
Confederate Army and served in many of the battles
fought in the southeast. Joining the Army April 15,
1861, it was said that he was among the first of the
South Carolina Volunteers to answer the call to arms and
was assigned to Company L. 13th S. C. Regiment. He was
under the command of Captain A. K. Smith and served
throughout the civil conflict, being discharged from the
service after the surrender of General Lee.
Mr. Reaves was perhaps one of the oldest cotton mill
employees in this part of the state, having served in
many different capacities. His first experience came
through the Bivingsville Cotton Mill in Bivingsville, S.
C. (Glendale). He united with the Baptist Church early
in life and was a member of the Glendale Baptist Church
at the time of his death”
Soon after the close of the war and upon his return from
the conflict, he was united in marriage to another
Glendale native, Miss. Elizabeth Thomas, the daughter of
James and Nancy Jarrett Thomas. Elizabeth died in 1912.
They had been married 42 years at the time of her
untimely death and had become the parents of five
children, Addie, Mary, Carrie, James R. and Walter D.
Reaves.
Morgan’s funeral service was conducted in his home
Thursday February 9th by the Reverend C.P. Holland,
assisted by the Reverend C.W. Allen. Grandsons served as
Pallbearers with the following persons serving as
Honorary Pallbearers; G.W. McCombs, J.T. Varner, J.J.
Fowler, M.V. LeMaster, J. L. Thomas, J. I. Corn, Z.W.
Vanderfor, J.H. Hunter, W.E. Morris and W.H. Murray.
Interment followed in the Glendale Community Cemetery
alongside of his wife and their daughter, Mrs. Carrie
Reaves Hunter. Morgan’s mother, Mrs. Milly Reaves Pierce
was also buried in the Reaves square. In some records
her name appears as Millie Reives.
He was survived by; two daughters, Mrs. J. W. Kidd,
Newton, N. C., Mrs. Mary Darracott, Glendale; two sons,
James R. and Walter D. Reaves of Glendale; also 15
grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Newspaper article courtesy of Spartanburg County
Library.
By; Clarence E. Crocker, May 2012
