SIXTH GENERATION

48. Isham REAVIS ⁽⁷³⁾ was born on 7 Mar 1781 in Francisco, Rutherford Co., NC. He immigrated in 1818 to Gibson Co., IN. He died on 27 Jul 1825 in Francisco, Gibson Co., IN. His son, William, stated, "He died in the prime of his manhood by an accident. He had settled in the comparative wilderness when IN was a Territory. He steadily increased in wealth until he was preparing to build a frame house, and for that purpose had stocked some lumber in order to dry it, when the pile fell on him and crushed him to death. He had an ordinary common school education, was fond of reading and was regarded as above the average for intelligence and sound judgment." A grandson adds: "After he was removed from beneath the lumber, a doctor was called who applied the "Bleeding cure" and death followed in a few hours." He was married to Tabitha STRICKLAND on 18 Jan 1802 in Warren Co., KY. In some records the name is spelled Strucklin or Stricklin.

49. Tabitha STRICKLAND was born on 1 Jan 1781 in NC. She died on 14 Aug 1848 in IN. Children were:

i. Dysea REAVIS was born on 13 Jun 1803 in Warren Co., KY. She died on 28 Aug 1885 in Gibson Co., IN.
24 ii. Elias L. REAVIS.
iii. Rachael REAVIS was born on 30 Dec 1807. She died on 12 Jul 1836.
iv. Martin REAVIS was born on 25 May 1810. He died on 18 Jul 1856.
v. Eliza REAVIS was born on 15 Jan 1813.
vi. William REAVIS was born on 27 Aug 1815. Captain William Reavis gives the following sketch of early times in this county;
Among the early settlers in this country, when courts of justice were "few and far between', the frontiersmen had a way of settling their differences that was somewhat peculiar to those days. To illustrate this, I will relate an incident which took place in Gibson County, under my own observation.
Sometime in the Autumn of 1822, I think it was in the month of November, on a cold evening, my oldest brother, Elias L, who was then about 17 years of age, found a horse in my father's corn field. The horse was well known to my brother as a breachy animal, and as having been in the habit of trespassing upon our premises; and feeling very angry at the beast, he picked up a frozen clod of dirt and threw it with all his might at the horse. It so happened that the clod struck the horse in his forehead, and felled him to the ground with a heavy thud. But within five minutes afterward the horse sprang to his feet, leaped the fence, and ran off toward home like the wind.
But now comes the sequel. The horse belonged to one of my father's neighbors and hunting companions, James W. Cockrum, (late of Oakland City, who died at a good old age a short time ago.) The horse went home to the owner, and appeared as well as usual, but died within three or four days from the time of receiving the wound.
Col. Cockrum called on my father and demanded full price for his horse. My father told him he was not satisfied that he ought to pay for the horse, but said he was willing to leave the matter to some of their neighbors to arbitrate the case. This proposal was agreed to, with the understanding that there should be no appeal from the decision which the arbitrators would make. They then agreed to the names of three men, who were neighbors and friends of both, but not akin to either. The day was set for the arbitration, and the place was my father's house. When the day came, it found the parties ready for trial, witnesses were called, and the facts already stated were proven, with the additional evidence that a post mortem examination was made of the horse, and it was found that some bruised blood was lodged on the bone of the head where the blow was struck; and although no fracture could be seen, it was supposed that inflamation of the brain might have resulted in the death of the horse.
The award was made in a few minutes after both Col. Cockrum and my father had spoken, each being his own lawyer, and was as follows:
"We are of the opinion that the blow killed the horse, but as it was not one through malice, or with intent to kill, we award to James W. Cockrun $15, just half the volume of the horse, which sum is to be paid him by Isham Reavis, on demand by said Cockrum."
Without waiting for a demand, my father went down into his pocket, pulled out an old leather purse, and then and there gave Col. Cockrum fifteen old Spanish dollars, after which they shook each other heartily by the hand, and were ever afterwards good and true friends.
It was in this way that the old frontiersman settled most of their difficulties. There were no Justice's or Constable's costs, no juries or witness's fees, and no appeals to Circuit or Supreme Courts in such cases then.
vii. Lucinda REAVIS was born on 13 May 1818.
viii. Alexander Devin REAVIS was born on 14 Jul 1820.