Biographical history of northeastern Ohio, embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumball and Mahoning. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with a biography of each, together with portraits and biographies of Joshua R. Giddings, Benjamin F. Wade, and a large number of the early settlers and representative families of to-day", pp 135-137, 1893.
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LEANDER C. REEVE, proprietor and manager of the celebrated Lone Tree Stock Farm, at Rome Centre, Ashtabula county, Ohio, and a representative of one of the oldest and most highly esteemed families of the county, was born in New Lyme, this State, September 6, 1828.
His father, Rumsey Reeve, was a native of Lyme, Connecticut, and removed with his
family to New Lyme, Ohio, in 1821, where he was a prosperous farmer until death. His
wife, Mary (Baldwin) Reeve, was born in Chester, Connecticut, and was a woman of
rare judgment and energy, whose sage advice and assistance contributed much to her husband's prosperity. They had ten children: James B., a Captain in the Thirty-second
Iowa Infantry, who died in the service, at Fort Pillow, Tennessee; Henry L., died on
the old homestead in New Lyme, in 1887; John K.; Leonidas, a well-to-do farmer and
stock-raiser, near Colebrook, this county; Hezekiah; Leander C, whose name heads
this sketch; Flavins J., who also died on the old homestead; Maria A., wife of J. S. Peck,
a prominent citizen of New Lyme; Arthur T., who enlisted in the Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry as a private and retired with the rank of Colonel in the United States
army, was at the time of his death Chief of the Seed Division of the Agricultural Department at Washington; William H. H., also a soldier in the late war, who died in the
service.
The subject of this sketch was reared on
his father's farm in New Lyme, and received
his education in the public schools and at
Jefferson union school. On attaining his
majority, he went West, where he remained
three years, when he returned to Ohio and
settled on a farm in Rome, where he has ever
since resided. This place, which is widely
known as the Lone Tree Stock Farm, com-
prises 140 acres of excellent farming land, is
well cultivated to general farming and improved with a substantial and comfortable
residence and good barns, besides other valuable accessories. The air of thrift and con-
tentment prevailing on the place is a recommendation for the management of Mr. Reeve,
who ranks second to no one in the county as
a farmer and stock-raiser. On this farm may
be seen a fine string of registered and standard-bred horses, about thirty at the present
time (1893), at the head of which stands Belden Boy, No. 3020, whose record is 2:34|.
Belton (3), with a record of 2:28;|, is the only one of Belden Boy's colts that has ever
been trained; he is not only speedy but game to the last. Bashaw Drury, Jr., has a trial
record of 2:35. An extended mention of all the fine horses and their merits would exceed
the length of this article, but sufficient has
been given to show the high grade which is
maintained. The liberal patronage which his
stable receives is the best proof of his wisdom in selecting and breeding stock. Cap-
tain Reeve has also two other good farms
near Rome station.
The military record of Captain Reeve is quoted from a contemporary review as fol-
lows: "Captain of Company G, Second Regiment Ashtabula County Militia, and
Captain of Company C, One Hundred and Seventy- seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer
Infantry; also Lieutenant, with commission to recruit; recruited sixty-eight men in thirty days for Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served under Major-Generals Milroy, Rousseau and Schofield in Ten-
nessee in 1864, participating in the battles of
the Cedars and Shelbyville Pike. In North
Carolina he served under Major-General Cox,
in General Schofield's Twenty-third Army
Corps, from Fort Fisher up the coast to New
Inlet, Fort Sugar- Loaf, Fort Anderson, Town
Creek, Wilmington, Kinston, Goldsborough
and Raleigh, and retired from service with
an untarnished record."
Politically, Captain Reeve is a Republican, and has been elected by his constituents to
various offices of trust. His public career began by his election to the office of Justice
of the Peace, which he filled with commendable ability and impartiality. He was a
member of the board of commissioners of the fund for the relief of indigent soldiers
and sailors for many years, — in fact up to the time of his election as Representative to the
Sixty-ninth General Assembly. He there made himself famous by presenting and
urging the passage of a bill, as petitioned for by his constituents, to bond Ashtabula city
for $150,000, to assist the city of Ashtabula in obtaining the removal of the courthouse
from Jefferson (the present county seat) to that city. The bill failed to pass, and on
this account a feeling was created againist him to such an extent that at the county con-
vention Captain Keeve failed to get the nomination for re-election. At the request of his
friends he then allowed his name to be used as an independent candidate, and was elected by an overwhelming majority, receiving a heavy Democratic support.
January 22, 1851, Captain Reeve was married to Miss Harriet "E. Peck, a lady of
superior attainments, who was born in New Lyme, Ohio, November 13, 1837. Her
father, Samuel G-. Peck, came with his parents to New Lyme when he was but nine
years of age. They were hardy and progressive pioneers, and to them and their son
Samuel is due much of the advancement made by New Lyme township. Samuel Peck
died in 1888, at his home in New Lyme, where he had lived from childhood, his loss
being generally and sincerely mourned. He was the father of five children: the youngest
died in childhood; Harriet, wife of the subject of this sketch, was the first in order of
birth; Zipporah married Sidney S. Stults, a well-to-do farmer of Rome township; Edwin
A. resides in Michigan; and Amos A. died in Warren, Ohio, in March, 1893. Captain
and Mrs. Reeve have five children: Arthur L., born January 31, 1852; Asher A., born
July 24, 1854; H. Amelia, born June 9, 1857, married Isaac N. Chapin, a prominent
resident of Silver Bow county, Montana; Rose A., born November 23, 1859, is the
wife of Dr. "W. O. Ellsworth, a well-known physician of Austinburgh, Ohio; Mary B.,
born June 23, 1867. Mrs. Reeve has been for many years a zealous worker in the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, as, indeed, are the whole family, with the exception of the
youngest daughter, who belongs to the Presbyterian denomination.
Such universal commendation of his merit leaves little to add in favor of Captain Reeve,
other than to call attention to the fact of his material contribution to the general advance-
ment and welfare of the community, of which he is a representative citizen.
