A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Benjamin Givens Reeves
Middle name of Givens is from Bob Reeves. Apparently named for his maternal grandfather.
In the Civil War, he served in Company A (L?), 9th regiment of the Missouri State Militia Cavalry. The Civil War pension package for him and Ottaway states that he died at home on 17 Sep 1865 of wounds received in a fight with Bushwhackers, however he "was not in the US Service at the time he recd his wound which caused his death." His discharge papers (dated 26 Feb 1864) say that he was disabled because of "a disease of the eyes contracted about the first of July 1863, while in the line of his duty". It further states that he was "incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of myopia and chronic ophthalmia. There is great weakness and sensitiveness of the eyes & the impressions of light and cold. The disability is permanent." (Parts of this are hard to read and I might not have them quite right.) Other places say (if I understand correctly) that he contracted diseases of the lungs and kidneys because of injuries sustained while he was in the service, and died from the effects of those diseases. There are numerous letters and forms in the pension package, many of them very hard to read, but it appears that the pension request was rejected because Benjamin was in a state militia, not federal service.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
Page generated on 31 October 2023