LeMars Sentinel, April 7, 1911
DEATH OF MRS. J. L. REEVES
Wife of Well Known Physician Succumbs to Pneumonia
Mrs. Reeves, wife of Dr. J. L. Reeves, succumbed to an attack of
pleura-pneumonia on Tuesday after an illness of a few days.
The attack of pneumonia brought on premature confinement and she gave
birth to a child on Friday, which only survived its birth two hours.
Her weakened condition and the severe attack of pneumonia were too much
for her recuperative powers and she rapidly grew worse and on Sunday her
life was despaired of, and on Monday little hope was held out for her
recovery, the disease baffling the skill of doctors and nurses, and she
passed away shortly before noon on Tuesday.
Her death is a tremendous shock to her husband, relatives, and friends
and they and the two motherless children have the sympathy of the
community in their bereavement.
Mertle Paullina Symms was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Symms, of
Broadview, Mont., former residents of LeMars. She was born at
Postville, Iowa, on March 22, 1875. In 1876 the Symms family moved to
Cherokee, where she spent most of her girlhood life, receiving her
education in the public schools of that place. In 1894 the Symms came
to LeMars to make their home, which has been her home since. She was
united in marriage with Jesse L. Reeves on September 15, 1897. Besides
the bereaved husband she leaves two children, a girl and a boy, Gertrude
Odessa age 11 and Art Lorenzo aged 8 years. She also leave to mourn her
early death her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Symms, of Broadview, Mont.,
and four brothers and one sister; Charles D. of Sioux Falls, South
Dakota; Arthur of Linton, Ind.; Hal C. of Chicago; Leo of Sioux [cannot
read this word], South Dakota; Nuna Symms, of Broadview, Mont. The
relatives were here to attend the funeral which was held yesterday at
the First Congregational church, with the exception of Miss Symms, who
was unable to come.
Mrs. Reeves was a young woman of many acquaintances and was greatly
liked among a large circle of friends who feel her loss acutely.
She was a member of the Eastern Star and the members attended the
funeral in a body. The mayor and other city officials attended the
funeral in a body, Dr. Reeves being city health physician.
LeMars Sentinel
June 16, 1914 (from the front page)
LEMARS DOCTOR TO WED
Sioux City Journal: The wedding of Miss Mabel McDonald to Dr. J. L.
Reeves, of LeMars, will take place at the home of the bride's parents,
Mr. and Mrs. M.R. McDonald, 3810 Orleans Avenue, Thursday evening at 8
o'clock. Rev. H. A. Keck, pastor of the Grace Methodist Episcopal
church, will read the marriage service. Following the ceremony, which
will be witnessed by the relatives and few close friends, luncheon will
be served. After a short wedding trip, Dr. and Mrs. Reeves will be at
home in LeMars.
Mr. and Mrs. O.B. McDonald, 2412 Douglas Street, presided at a dinner in
their home Friday evening, honoring Miss Mabel McDonald, a bride of this
week. Green and white, the chosen colors of the bride-elect, were used
in the appointments of the tables, where hors d'oeuvres were arranged
for twenty-two guests. The floral decorations were white roses and
smilax. The after dinner hours were spent with informality and
visiting. A shower of miscellaneous gifts were presented to Miss
McDonald in a large basket lavishly decorated in the wedding colors.