George R. Reeves

Who was George R. Reeves?

George Robertson Reeves was born on January 3, 1826, in Hickman County, Tennessee. He was the fifth child of William Steel Reeves and Nancy Totty Reeves. After moving to Crawford County, Arkansas, he married Jane Moore on October 31, 1844. Together the couple had twelve children. They moved to Grayson County, Texas, in 1845. He was a tax collector there from 1848 to 1850, and was the sheriff of Grayson County from 1850 to 1854.

From 1855 to 1861 he served as a state representative. He was commissioned as a Confederate army officer in 1863, and he fought in the Battle of Chickamauga and in the Hundred Day Atlanta Campaign. Confederate Camp Reeves was named after him. He returned to the Legislature and served in 1870, 1875, 1879, and from 1881 to 1882. During his final term he was Speaker of the House. He was bit by a rabid dog and died of hydrophobia on September 5, 1882. He was buried in Georgetown Cemetery. Reeves County, Texas, is named in his honor.