Nelson Grant Reeves was born in Washington County, Iowa, October 9, 1853. He was second oldest in a family of ten children.

In 1861 his father, John Reeves, enlisted in the Kansas militia and soon was in the Civil War. After his enlistment the mother and children proved up on their Kansas claim, then yoked the oxen to a covered wagon and moved back to Benton County, Iowa, residing there until the war was over, then returning to Kansas, where they lived several years. The father joined the scout troop with Buffalo Bill to help kill buffalo for the Union Pacific construction gang at Fort McPherson, Nebraska. Later the family settled in Benton County, Iowa.

On March 15, 1876, he was united in marriage to Jessie L. Rose, who died November 22, 1922. They moved to Clay County, Iowa, in 1880 and he converted a prairie farm into a wooded paradise. Selling this they spent time in various parts of Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota. In the fall of 1905 he moved to Farnam which has been the family home since.

To this union nine children were born, two preceding him in death, George, 17, died at Decatur City, Iowa, in July 1907, and Clyde who died at Devils Lake, North Dakota, October 8, 1944. The remaining children are Mrs. Jennie Jones of Farnam; Dr. A. E. Reeves, North Platte; Mrs. C. E. Ammons, Council Bluffs, Iowa; Matt G. Reeves, Tampa, Florida; Mrs. Sada Weik, Norfolk; Mrs. Howard Mansfield, Monrovia, Calif.; and Frank Reeves of Gothenburg. Also three brothers and one sister survive, Mrs. Delia Adair, California; John Reeves, Kansas; Clarence of Hot Spring, South Dakota; Walter of Canada; grandchildren, great-grandchildren.

He was the head of a five generation group, the others being Mrs. Jennie Jones and Mrs. C. E. Pollard of Farnam, Mrs. Edwin Axtell and son Robert of Des Moines, Iowa.

In early life he was baptized into the Dunkard or Brethern church and was a leader in Christian activities, organizing many Sunday schools in the early days. After moving to Farnam he united with the Congregational church and later with the Methodist. He was a strict father and taught his children to fear God and follow the Golden Rule.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Hugo funeral home to the Farnam Methodist church with Rev. McCaig and Rev. Rodewald officiating. Burial was in Farnam cemetery beside his wife.