Person:John Reece (11)

The Rev. John Reece is well known in this community as the pioneer minister of the Baptist denomination. It is an interesting fact concerning him, that his father and grandfather before him were Baptist clergymen. His grandfather, John Reece, . . . became a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church. . . . He died while the subject of this sketch was quite young. Benjamin Reece, his son, . . . . came to Shelby County, and settled in Hendricks Township; he began preaching the Gospel of Christ about this time, . . . John Reece, the son of Benjamin and Sarah Reece, was born in Clarke Co., Ind., Oct. 17, 1819; came to Shelby County with his father in 1834, and has spent his entire life here, except the four years devoted to his collegiate education at Franklin College. He made a profession of religion in the Second Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, of this county, in March, 1838; called to the Gospel ministry, he was licensed by the same church in July, 1838, and ordained Jan. 12, 1840; he has been in the active work of the ministry ever since, without any intermission; in all the Baptist Churches of this region he has preached, in most of them he has held successful revival meetings, and hundreds upon hundreds have been added to the church under his earnest and faithful labors. Mr. Reece was first married to Phebe Ann Tucker, Nov. 28, 1839, and one son, Benjamin H., was born to them. Mrs. Reece died at an early age, Aug. 7, 1846. He was again married, June 10, 1847, to the present Mrs. Reece, Mary Jane, daughter of Samuel and Agnes Midkiff. Their son, William V., was born Dec. 9, 1851. Mrs. Reece is also advanced in life, and a more motherly, wise and popular lady it would be difficult to find. For twenty-three years, Mr. Reece has been the Pastor of the Mount Pisgah Church, and he enjoys the very rare good fortune of living in his old age among the people who know him best and yet love him as a neighbor, friend and spiritual father.
Atlas of Shelby Co., Indiana, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co, 1880, pg 35.^[4]

1. ↑ Washington Township, Clark, Indiana, in United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33).

   Benjamin Reas, 2 males under 10 [William, John], 2 males 26-45 [Benjamin, unknown], 1 female 16-25 [Sarah]; 1 person in agriculture

2. ↑ NE of State Road, Clark County, Indiana, in United States. 1830 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M19)
   p. 40.

   Reece, Benj. 2 ma 10-15 (William, John), 1 m 30-40 (Benjamin), 1 f under 5 (unknown), 1 f 30-40 (Sarah)

3.   Hendricks Township, Shelby, Indiana, in United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704)
   p. 344.

   Benjamin Reece, 1 m 10-15 [Thomas], 1 m 25-30 [ William], 1 m 40-50 [Benjamin], 1 f 5-10 [Martha], 1 f 30-40 [Sarah]

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Biographies, Rev. John Reece , in Shelby, Indiana, United States. GenWeb
   accessed 14 May 2001.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Indiana Baptist History 1798-1908. Franklin, Indiana, 1908. [Repository:Indiana State Library|ISL] 286 S888
   p. 120.

   “Elder John Reece, son of [Benjamin], was licensed to preach by the Second Mount Pleasant church in 1839, and the next year it called a council for his ordination. He was moderator of his association [Flat Rock] for eighteen years. He had many of the characteristics of his father – earnest piety, sterling integrity and complete loyalty to Christ. He died at his home in Shelbyville in July 1894.”

6. ↑ Shelby County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records, 1822-1886, and partitions, 1876-1891. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984)
   Vol. J, p. 690; FHL #1403621.

   John Reese Deed from Ephraim Tucker
   21 February 1842
   Ephraim Tucker of Shelby county, IN
   and John Reese and Phebe Ann Reese of same
   for $1.00 paid by John and Phoebe Ann Reese
   Ephraim Tucker sells
   W1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Sec 7, T12N, R6E
   containing 80 acres
   Signed Ephraim Tucker
   Winnaford X her mark Tucker, his wife
   Witness Wm Law JP, James H. Tucker
   Recorded 27 January 1843

7. ↑ Churches of Shelby County Indiana, First Baptist Church of Shelbyville, in Shelby, Indiana, United States. GenWeb
   accessed 2 Apr 2009.

   The First Baptist Church of Shelbyville was organized in March, 1849, when Shelbyville had but five Baptists. The first sermon was preached by Rev. John Reece in the old court-house that stood in the center of the public square and the services were attended by twelve persons. Meetings were held every other two weeks and preaching had by Reverend Reece. The constituent members of this church were:
   William E. Midkiff,
   Mary Midkiff,
   Samuel Midkiff,
   Agnes Midkiff,
   Olive Bassett,
   Reuben DeBoard,
   Eliza DeBoard,
   Elizabeth T. Brown,
   Lydia Rodifer,
   Eliza Robertson,
   Mary Veach,
   John Bassett
   Katherine Bassett.
   [Submitted by Marita Bolson. Original Source: Chadwick's History of Shelby Co., Ind., p. 158]

8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Shelby County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records, 1822-1886, and partitions, 1876-1891. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984)
   Vols M-O; FHL #1403623.

   Vol M, p. 395
   John Reese from William Clark (both of Shelby County, IN), 30 January 1847
   for $225
   E1/2 of the NE1/4 of S7, T12N, R6E, = 80 acres
   Signed William Clark, Sarah Ann Clark
   Witness James M. Smith, Enoch M. Tucker JP
   
   Vol N, p. 524
   John Reese Deed from Thomas Vaughn & wife, all of Shelby County
   8 January 1848
   for $300
   part of Lot 11 on Washington Street in Shelbyville bounded and described as follows:
   Beginning at a point on the S line of said lot on the N side of Washington St. 24 ft from the SE corner of said lot thence W 42 feet to a point dividing the S boundary into 2 equal parts thence N99 ft thence E42 ft thence S 99 ft to the place of beginning
   Signed Thomas Vaughn, Sarah Vaughn
   Witnesses Bush Vaughn, William E. Midkiff JP
   
   Vol O, p. 65
   John Hurston of Franklin Col, IN from John Reese and Mary Jane Reese his wife of Shelby Co, IN
   20 January 1848
   for $500
   E1/2 of NE1/4, S7, T12N, R6E
   and W1/2 of NE1/4, S7, T12N, R6E
   Signed John Reese, Mary Jane Reese
   Witnesses William H. Tucker, Enoch M. tucker JP

9. ↑ Shelby County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records, 1822-1886, and partitions, 1876-1891. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984)
   Vol P, p. 117; FHL #1403624.

   Trustees Baptist Church Deed from John Reece
   John Reece and Mary J. Reece his wife of the County of Shelby, Indiana
   for $100
   paid by Nymphus Bassett, Reuben Debord and Samuel Midkiff of same county and state, Trustees of the Baptist Church of the Town of Shelbyville constituted on the articles of faith of the Flat Rock Association
   for the purpose of a House or Church of public worship
   a part of Lot Number 11 on Washington Street in the Town of Shelbyville, commencing at the SW corner of said lot running East along said street 40 ft then running due North 70 feet then due West to an alley 40 feet then South along said alley 70 feet to the place of beginning
   Signed 21 March 1849
   John Reece, Mary Jane Reece
   Witness: John Weakley, JP; John M. Mahoney

10. ↑ Shelbyville, Shelby, Indiana, in United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432)
    HH 103, Fam 105.

    Reece, John, 30, Baptist Minister, [no RE listed], b. IN
    , Mary J., 24, b. IN
    , Benj T., 9, b. IN
    Vawter, Achilles, 24, b. IN [Grandson of Jesse Vawter ]
    , Philoman, 19, b. IN

11. ↑ Shelby County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records, 1822-1886, and partitions, 1876-1891. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984)
    Volume Y, p. 366.

    William A. Reese and Emily Reese his wife
    John Reese and Mary J. Reese his wife
    Lindsey C. Garrison and Martha E. Garrison his wife
    And Sarah Reese
    Of Shelby County, Indiana
    Convey and Warrant to
    Thomas H. Reese of Johnson County, IN
    For the sum of $4000, Real Estate in Shelby county
    North part of the N1/2 of the NW1/4, S12, T12, R5, containing 53 acres and 33/100s of an acre
    Also the west part of the NE1/4, S11, T12, R5, containing 106 acres and 66/100 more or less
    The fee in said land being in the said Sarah Reese, John Reese, William Reese and the said Martha Garrison
    Signed 14 August 1854
    William A. Reese, Emily J. x her mark Reese, John Reese, Mary Jane Reese, Lindsey C. x his mark Garrison, Martha E. Garrison, Sarah Reese
    Witness Eldridge G. Mayhew, JP
    Recorded 11 Sept 1855

12. ↑ Indiana, 6th Congressional District, in United States. Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865. (Online database: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010)
    Vol 4, Class 2, No. 282.

    Shelby County, Addison Township
    Reese, John, 43, farmer, b. IN

13. ↑ Addison Township, Shelby, Indiana, in United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653)
    HH 26, Fam 27.

    Reece, John, 40, Minister, Baptist, RE = $4000, PE = $810, b. IN
    , Mary J., 31, b. IN
    , Benjamin, 18, farm laborer, b. IN, attended school
    , William V., 9, b. IN, attended school

14. ↑ Find A Grave
    Memorial# 13859836.

    Rev John Reece
    Birth: Oct. 17, 1819
    Death: Jul. 24, 1894
    Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, Shelby County, Indiana, USA

15.   John Reece also helped found or served at at least two other churches, the Hurricane Baptist Church in Clark County, and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Trafalgar County.
    
    "History of Johnson County, Indiana" 1888, by D. D. Banta
    Transcribed by Cheryl Zufall Parker
    HURRICANE BAPTIST CHURCH (Clark Township) was organized about the year 1840 or 1841 by Rev. Benjamin Reece, who preached for several years thereafter, holding meetings in the old log building, known as Friendship Church. John Reece has also served as a pastor.
    MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH (Trafalgar) was formally organized June 8, 1844, by Elders Reece and Chandler. Elder J. Reece was called to the pastorate in 1844.