Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Participant

The Kemp Sketch

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REAVES, DIMER W. -- Arrived in Texas in June, 1835, as is shown in Headright Certificate No. 5 issued to him February 1, 1838 for one-third of a league of land by the Nacogdoches County Board. He was in Captain Henry W. Karnes' Company of Cavalry and was a member of the party that destroyed Vince's bridge. Others in the party were Deaf Smith, John Coker, Young Perry Alsbury, Edwin R. Rainwater and Moses Laphan.

Mr. Reaves was issued Bounty Certificate No. 9828 for 320 acres of land July 15, 1841 for having served in the army from March 7 to May 28, 1836. His heirs received duplicate Donation Certificate No. 343 March 18, 1850, due him for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto.

On November the 4th, 1839, Mr. Reaves was married to Elizabeth Jordan, daughter of Alexander and Nancy Jordan, the ceremony being performed by Justice of the Peace, Bennett Blake. Alexander Jordan at that time lived upon a tract of about one thousand acres located in what later became the southern part of Rusk County, where he operated a twenty-saw gin in connection with his plantation. Following his marriage, Mr. Reaves made his home with his father-in-law, who died December 3rd, 1839, less than a month after the marriage of his daughter. Dimer W. Reaves apparently continued to live on the Jordan plantation and looked after the management of the farm.

He died in Rusk County in 1847, as is shown in the Probate Records of that county. H. Hawkins was appointed administrator of his estate in July, 1847.



Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.


Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Private
  • Company: Capt. Henry Wax Karnes

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Denmore
  • Came to Texas: 1835 June
  • Date of Death: 1847
  • Comments: Destroyed Vince's Bridge
  • Bounty Certificate: 9828
  • Donation Certificate: 343
  • Wife: Elizabeth Jordan