Charles Henry Reeves (1842)

Charles was one of the original owners of the famous Hercules Mine and pioneer resident of Coeur d' Alene region in Idaho. At one time he owned the controlling interest of the Hercules Mine at Burke, Idaho, from which it is reported, that ore valued at $85,000,000 was produced and dividends of $18,500,000 paid. Unfortunately for Charles, he sold several fractional interests in the mine before the discovery that made the Hercules one of the greatest mines of the Coeur d' Alene region. As a result, his holdings were reduced by those sales to a small part, yet remained sufficient to supply him with a comparatively large fortune.

The faith of Mr. Reeves is believed to have been an important influence in the mines' development. His optimism, expressed at his Barbar shop in Wallace, would encourage continuance of work, when one or another partner would despair of success.

Charles Reeves formerly owned a large residential property ( 1305 5th Ave.) and other real estate in Spokane, Washington. He also had interests in industrial properties. At the time of his death he had lost most of his properties in recent years. He was well known and liked by many acquaintances in the Couer d' Alene region and Spokane, Washington. He resided at Wallace for 14 years, beginning in 1890, and lived in Spokane the last 24 years. He passed away in his home, E1917 Fifth, Spokane, Washington. He had been married to his wife for 65 years who passed away one year previously.

Mr. Herbert Swanson and Mrs. Dayton Stewart sang in duet " Safe in the arms of Jesus" and " Whispering Hope". He was buried at Riverside Park Cemetery.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` 8/12/98

It has been said that Charles gave most of his money to friends and acquaintances, and spent large sums on trips and social gatherings with those friends. At the time of his death most of his money was gone, as a result of this. When asked why he did this and did not give his money to his family the answer was that he did not want them to fight over the wealth.

This has not been authenticated by more than one source at this time.

The home at 1305 5th Ave., Spokane, Washington is now an apartment building.

.............................................................................................................................................................................. CHARLES H. REEVES AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO EMBRACING NEZ PERCES, IDAHO, LATAH, KOOTENAI, AND SHOSHONE COUNTIES STATE OF IDAHO WESTERN HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1903

We are grateful to the kind assistance of the Ilo-Vollmer Historical Society and in particular, Dick Southern, for scanning and editing of the biographies contained in this volume of history.

CHARLES H. REEVES is a leading capitalist and mining man of the Coeur d'Alene country and has his headquarters in Wallace, where he devotes himself to supervising his mining matters and also gives attention to other property. Mr. Reeves is a man of large business experience and has demonstrated himself to be possessed of both executive ability and keen discrimination, while sound wisdom has always characterized him.

Charles H. Reeves was born in Illinois on April 22, 1842, the son of John and Elizabeth (Jennings) Reeves, natives of Ohio. They both came from old and prominent American families, the father of English and the mother of Irish extraction. The father died in 1897, aged ninety-one, and the mother died shortly after the war, aged sixty-three. The family removed to Wisconsin and then to Iowa and in these states our subject received his education and was reared. In 1862 Charles H. enlisted in Company B, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, under Captain W. D. Crook. When he was mustered out he was under Colonel S. S. Merrill, who afterwards was governor of Iowa for four terms. Mr. Reeves was active the first winter after Price, then was transferred to the Vicksburg campaigns, then participated in the movements and battles at Jackson, Mississippi. He also was in the struggle about New Orleans, then went to Texas, helped capture Mobile and took part in the Red River expedition. At the close of the war Mr. Reeves was honorably discharged, and having gained a good knowledge of the tonsorial art in the army, he went to work in that occupation and more or less until seven years ago he followed it. He operated a shop in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minneapolis and came to Wallace in 1889.

Here Mr. Reeves opened a shop and did an excellent business, also handling mines. He owned a half interest in the Hercules and later sold a portion, having now a goodly portion of it. He has been associated with Harry L. Day and with him located the Happy Day group, adjoining the Hercules. He also has interests in many other fine properties. Mr. Reeves has one brother and one sister, Nathan and Mrs. Mary M. Shattuck. Mr. Reeves is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the Elks, and takes an active part in the Wallace board of trade.

On July 4, 1861, at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, Mr. Reeves married Miss Annie, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Walker) Watson, natives of England. The father is deceased, and the mother lives in Mason City, Iowa. Mrs. Reeves was born in Wisconsin, and has three sisters, Mrs. Mary J. Farrell; Mrs. Louisa, widow of V. K. Goss; Mrs. Josephine, widow of C. B. Maben. To this marriage there have been born fifteen children, ten of whom are living, as follows: Ella, wife of L. H. Woodcock, a millwright in Wallace; Carrie, wife of F. H. Hopper, a prospector in Spokane; Ida, wife of C. E. Brooks, who has charge of Mr. Reeves' stock ranch at St. Regis, Montana; Lemuel. C., a barber in Colfax; Jay A., a student at the university in Moscow; Alice J., at home; Arthur E., at home; Sidro D., a student at St. Helen's hall in Portland; Harry H., a student at Moscow; Bessie, at home. Mr. Reeves has a stock ranch of four hundred acres, besides his other property. He is a Republican, but while he has frequently been delegate to the conventions, he does not aspire to political distinction. Mr. Reeves is a good, substantial man of excellent business ability and has not only made a first class success in his career but has so conducted himself that he has won the respect and admiration of all.

.................................................................................................................................................................................. AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO EMBRACING NEZ PERCES, IDAHO, LATAH, KOOTENAI, AND SHOSHONE COUNTIES STATE OF IDAHO WESTERN HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 1903

HISTORY OF SHOSHONE COUNTY CHAPTER I CURRENT HISTORY-1860-1885

The Hercules Mine, which has been appropriately called "the Wonder of the Camp," is situated about two miles from Burke. It is one of the new developments of this district, the "strike" having been made July 2, 1901. Up to that date it had been simply an encouraging prospect. Its crude product is the richest in the camp and its ore shoots the largest. For their young bonanza the owners have refused a bonding proposition of $2,000,000. The wonderful production of this mine is given elsewhere. The Hercules was discovered by poor men in this world's goods, and one of the present owners, G. Paulson, is said to have seemed a half interest in the property for $750. The mine is owned by H. Day, sons Harry, Jerome, Eugene, Mrs. E. B. Boyce, G. Paulson, Sylvester Markwell, C. H. Reeves, L. W. Hutton, Dan Cardoner, H. T. Samuels and F. M. Rothrock, all residents of the Coeur d'Alenes. The ore is all clean, shipping quality, and is sent direct to the Everett Smelter and New Jersey Reduction Works. The expenses for operation for 1892, according to the Coeur d'Alene Mining Record, were: Wages, $50,000; freight and treatment charges, $85,000; fuel, timber, repairs, etc., $15,000; total $150,000. This leaves net profits of $170,000, the total gross value of output having been $320,000. This is certainly a grand record for a new mine---unsurpassed in the history of lead mining. The management is now driving a twenty-five-hundred-foot tunnel that will explore the mammoth ore shoot five hundred feet below the upper workings. It is believed this tunnel will open up ore reserves of the value of $1,500,000, and some local mining experts prophesy that the Hercules "will make a $10,000,000 mine." Harry L. Day, Jr., is the manager of the Hercules Mine.