Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  pp. 435-6.

THOMAS ALBERT REAVIS

Thomas Albert Reavis, the popular postmaster of Hood River, is a native of
Missouri, his birth having occurred in Jasper county in 1853. His parents were
David Bardon and Elizabeth (Lee) Reavis. The paternal ancestors were for long
residents of North Carolina and representatives of the family removed to
Missouri in the days of pioneer development in that state. The father of David
B. Reavis was for many years a distinguished educator and the son was county
judge of Johnson county, where the Reavis family resided after removing to
Missouri. Elizabeth (Lee) Reavis was a native of Virginia and a representative
of the family whose name is found on almost every page of the history of the Old
Dominion. In 1877 Judge Reavis removed with his family to Union county, Oregon,
where he took up land, becoming one of the first settlers of that section of the
state. When the county of Wallowa was created he was made the first county clerk
and bore a most conspicuous and helpful part in the growth and development of
that section.

Thomas A. Reavis was educated in the graded schools of Johnson county,
Missouri, and in the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri, from which
he was graduated in 1875. He then turned his attention to the drug business in
Texas but in 1877, when his people removed to Oregon, he came to this state and
has since been one of its leading and substantial citizens. He engaged in
farming and stock raising in Wallowa county until 1901, when he took up his
abode in Ashland and a little later removed to La Grande, there engaging in
merchandising. In 1903 he located at Hood River, where he purchased land and
engaged in growing strawberries, continuing active in the business until the
burning of the Davidson cannery at Hood River, when he sold his strawberry ranch
and planted an apple orchard which he still owns. In 1915 he was appointed by
President Wilson to the position of postmaster of Hood River and has conducted
the office in such a manner as to win the praise of members of all parties, with
the result that in 1919 he was re-appointed for another term of four years. The
Hood River postoffice handles a large amount of mail, having both local and
rural delivery, and requires the services of five clerks and an assistant
postmaster.

Mr. Reavis is a Royal Arch Mason and has filled all of the offices in the blue
lodge. His political support is given to the democratic party and he has been
active in its councils throughout his life. His father's family numbered six
sons, not one of whom has strayed from the democratic fold.

In 1880 Mr. Reavis was united in marriage to Mrs. Ida Dreski, of Nortonville,
Kansas, and they have one daughter, Gladys Lee. The family is widely and
prominently known at Hood River, the hospitality of the best homes being freely
accorded them. Mr. Reavis has spent the greater part of his life in the
northwest and has been a contributing factor to the development, upbuilding and
improvement of the section of the state in which he makes his home.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.