Biography - THOMAS BARNETT REAMES

The late Thomas Barnett Reames, although a native of the Blue Grass state, had been a resident of Macoupin county from his boyhood. His birth occurred in Grayson county, Kentucky, on the 12th of February, 1838, his parents being Jesse and Cynthia (Peebles) Reames, who were also natives of Kentucky and were of Irish extraction. The father was a son of the Rev. Robert Reames, a noted divine. In the early ’40s Jesse Reames removed with his family to Illinois, settling in the vicinity of Carlinville, where he engaged in farming. To him anc his wife were born nine children: Martha, the wife of Hardin Weatherford of Litchfield, Illinois; Viann, who became the wife of David Creamer, of Carlinville, Illinois, but both are now deceased, she having passed away in July, 1911; Jonathan, who died at the age of two years; William, who was drowned at the age of twenty-one years; Emily, who became the wife of M. F. Wagner, of Moultrie county, Illinois; Thomas, of this review; Mary, who became the wife of David Ashbaugh, both deceased; Lucinda, the wife of David Hyler, of Moultrie county, Illinois; and Elizabeth, who married John Cleaver, also of Moultrie county. The father died in September, 1879, and the mother April 11, 1896.

Thomas Barnett Reames was reared and educated in Macoupin county, where he practically spent his entire life. When the call came for volunteers, in the early days of the Civil war, he responded enlisting and going to the front as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry. He spent three years in the service of his country, participating in a number of important battles, and was mustered out at Springfield. When he returned home he devoted his attention to painting, which trade he continued to follow for a few years. He afterward took up the occupation of farming, devoting his energies thereto until 1901, when he retired from active life and removed to Virden, where he resided until his death.

Mr. Reames was twice married, his first wife having been Miss Elizabeth Wagoner, who became the mother of two children: Annie, who first married J. S. Tucker and for her second husband married Jesse Durham and is living in Virden; and one who died in infancy. Mr. Reames’ second wife was Miss Nancy J. Wright, whom he married on the 5th of September, 1869. She was a daughter of Preston and Susan (Dawson) Wright, who were natives of Kentucky. She was a lineal descendant of Thomas Dawson, a gunsmith and carpenter, who had the first plank floor in Winchester, Virginia. Their famous ancestor is the Dawson of Normandy, who followed the standard of William the Conqueror to England in 1066 as one of his companions in arms. Thomas Dawson s father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war under General Greene and held high office in the army. He settled in Bedford county, Virginia. He married Nancy Fitzhugh, a representative of the Fitzhugh family of English ancestry. She was born August 4, 1794, and was a daughter of Peter Fitzhugh, who was a soldier under General Greene in the war for independence. Several of the Fitzhugh family have been officers in the Mexican and Civil wars. It was in Hart county, Kentucky, that Preston Wright and Susan Dawson were married, where Mr. Wright engaged in farming until 1849. He then removed with his family to the vicinity of Virden, Illinois, and, entering land from the’ government, again concentrated his time and attention upon the work of tilling the soil, in which he was very successful, becoming the owner of over six hundred acres of valuable land, from which he derived a substantial and gratifying income. In 1882 he letired from active life and removed to Virden, where he spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest, his death occurring in 1888. He had long survived his first wife, Mrs. Susan Wright, who had passed away in October, 1865. Two years afterward, in 1867, he had married Mrs. Louisa Rhodes, a widow who died in 1893. Preston Wright was a democrat in his political views but never cared for office. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and his religious faith was that of the Methodist church, in which he held membership. To Preston and Susan (Dawson) Wright were born thirteen children: Nancy J., now the widow of Thomas B. Reames; David A., deceased, who was a banker of Louisburg, Kansas; Sarah F., the wife of James Walden, of Oklahoma; Carter, who has passed away; Mary M., who is the widow of James Gibson and lives in Des Moines, Iowa; a daughter who died in infancy; Malinda, the wife of Benjamin Atterbury, of Missouri; Phoebe, who has also passed away; Thomas B., a minister of Rochester, Illinois; Almira, deceased; a son who died in infancy; Fana A., deceased; and Carrie, also deceased. Of this family Thomas B. Wright was the father of Mary Wright Pease, the wife of Kingsley Pease, who went as a foreign missionary to Singapore, Maiayasia, in 1901. She died eighteen months later but her life while there was a most wonderful success, winning hundreds of boys and girls to Christ. The natives still worship at her tomb because of their great love for her.

Mr. and Mrs. Reames were the parents of six children; only one of them is now living, Stella M., who for five years was a teacher in the public schools. Those deceased are: Granville P.; Preston Allen; William A.; Louisa Jane (Dolly), who became the wife of John V iley, Jr., of Girard, August 29, 1900, and died June 16, 1909, at Fort Collins, Colorado, leaving one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, born March 20, 1906; and Leona. The surviving daughter, Stella, became the wife of Amos Shutt, of Virden, who was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, June 20, 1868, and is a son of Jacob W. and Susan (Gates) Shutt, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, but at an early day became residents of Sangamon county, where they resided until their deaths. Amos Shutt attended school in that county and there engaged in farming for about fifteen years, but in 1901 removed to Virden, where he clerked in a grocery store for several years. He is now employed by the Darlington Lumber Company of Virden. On the 27th of December, 1893, he married Stella Reanres and to them have been born two children: Adra Lillian, born November 9, 1896; and Viva Gladys, November 7, 1903.

The death of Mr. Reames occurred on the 1st of September, 1906, and he was laid to rest in the cemetery at Virden. He was a member of the Methodist church, to which his widow belongs, and fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political support was given to the democratic party, until the prohibition party was organized, when he became one of its stanch advocates, and, although he was never an office seeker, lie met the requirements of good citizenship by casting his ballot at the elections in support of the principles in which he believed. He was loyal 10 every movement which he regarded as of benefit to the community and his aid and cooperation could ever he counted upon to further any project for the public good. His life was, indeed, honorable and upright in all of its connections and during the long period of his residence in Macoupin county he not only won the high regard of those with whom he came in closer contact but also the warm friendship and affection of many fellow citizens.

Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 646-652.