Introduction
RICHARD HENRY REEVE was born in Alloway, Salem County NJ on October 5, 1840. His grandfather was William Cooper, who operated the ferry at Cooper’s Point, one of the first ferries between Camden and Philadelphia.
Richard H. Reeve came to Camden in 1868, and with his cousin Benjamin H. Reeve established a floor oil cloth manufacturing business that was one of Camden’s leading industries in the 19th century. Their firm, R.H. & B.C. Reeve, also known as the Camden Oil Cloth Works, with its factory complex on Pine Street east of Haddon Avenue, was nationally known in its day. Richard H. Reeve’s brother Augustus Reeve also came to Camden, and made his fortune in the brick manufacturing business.
Richard H. Reeve retired from the oil cloth business in 1892, but remained active in the civic life of Camden NJ. He was a trustee of Cooper Hospital, and as of 1897 had been the Treasurer and Secretary of that institution for nine years. He was also the Treasurer and was on the Board of Managers of the Camden Dispensary, and was the Treasurer of the Cooper Estate.
The Camden Oil Cloth Works was acquired by the Farr & Bailey Company, which had also been in the oil cloth manufacturing business, in 1902. By 1928 the Pine Street complex was subdivided, and different businesses operated there over the years. The three-story tall storage building at 1350 Pine Street, last used to store waste paper, was destroyed by fire on May 8, 1972.
Richard H. Reeve and his family made their home at 700 Cooper Street in Camden, near his cousin Benjamin, who lived at 640 Cooper. Richard H. Reeve passed away on February 10, 1917, survived by his daughters Alice and Hannah.
Biographical Review — 1897
Richard H. Reeve biographical sketch, Biographical Review of Camden and Burlington Counties, New Jersey, 1897.
RICHARD H. REEVE, a retired manufacturer of Camden, N.J., formerly of the firm of R. H. & B. C. Reeve, has long been identified with the progress of the city, not only as a manufacturer, but also in connection with some of its most noted public institutions; and in the book entitled “Representative Men of Camden,” published in 1884, considerable space is given to his biography. He was born in Alloway, Salem County, this State, October 5, 1840, son of William F. and Mary W. (Cooper) Reeve. William Reeve, father of William F., was born in Cumberland County, but spent most of his life in Burlington County, engaged in farming. He was a competent farmer and an able business man. He married Letitia Miller, and reared ten children.
William F. Reeve was born in Burlington County. During a great part of his mature years he was engaged in ship-building in Salem County, and a large number of vessels left his docks. A man of strong opinions and possessing the courage of his convictions, he was an influential member of the Whig party, and was for some time in the Council of the State, a body corresponding to the present State Senate. He died at the age of seventy-six. His wife was a member of the Cooper family, one of the oldest and most prominent families of this vicinity, known here since 1678. Her father, William Cooper, was the owner of the ferry at Cooper’s Point, connecting with the foot of Arch Street, Philadelphia. The ferry was one of the first established in this section. It was operated by horse-power. Mrs. Reeve’s parents had eight children. She reared a family of four: William C.; Augustus, a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work; Richard H., the subject of this sketch; and Rebecca C. Mr. William F. Reeve and his wife were members of the Society of Friends.
Richard H. Reeve was educated at the Friends’ School in Westtown, Pa., and at a commercial college in Philadelphia. He was in the lumber business at Alloway for five years, and in 1868 started in a small way in the manufacture of floor oil-cloth in Camden. His cousin, Benjamin C. Reeve, was associated with him. The business grew steadily until it was one of the leading industries of the locality, and the firm of R. H. & B. C. Reeve was known far and wide. In 1892 Mr. Reeve retired from business, but his plant is still in operation. Mr. Reeve has been a Director of the National State Bank for a number of years; is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cooper Hospital, and has been Treasurer and Secretary since 1888; has been a Manager and the Treasurer of the Camden City Dispensary for ten years; and is a Trustee of the Cooper estate, a large part of which is devoted to philanthropic purposes. As a business man the record of Mr. Reeve is a long and honorable one, and he has won the respect of all who know him.
He was married in 1862 to Sarah W. Carpenter, of Salem, N.J., who is descended from Samuel Carpenter, a contemporary of William Penn. Mr. Samuel Carpenter was a wealthy merchant and large landholder, owning the ground upon which the city of Camden stands. Mrs. Reeve’s father was a well-to-do farmer. Her union with Mr. Reeve has been blessed by four children — Augustus H., Hannah C., Mary W., and Alice M. Augustus H. Reeve has taken his father’s place as a member of the firm of oil-cloth manufacturers. He married Margaretta Caldwin, and has two children — Katherine and Augustus Henry, Jr. Mary W. Reeve is the wife of Edward S. Wood, of Riverton. In politics Mr. Reeve favors the Republican side. In religion he adheres to the faith of his fathers, attending the Friends’ meeting.
Camden Oil Cloth Works — 1892
The R.H. & B.C. Reeve Camden Oil Cloth Works factory complex on Pine Street, 1892.
Funeral of Former Judge Voorhees
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Former Judge Peter V. Voorhees was buried from his home, 315 Cooper street, Camden, yesterday. The services were in charge of Rev. R. E. Brestell, rector of St. Paul’s P. E. Church. The pall-bearers were Dr. H. Genet Taylor, Dr. Paul H. Markley, Richard H. Reeve, Augustus Reeve, Watson Depuy, Howard M. Cooper, Alexander C. Wood and Ephraim Tomlinson. Interment was made at Evergreen.
Richard H. Reeve Dies in Camden, Aged 77
Philadelphia Inquirer —
One of City’s Best Known Business Men Succumbs Suddenly of Heart Ailment
One of Camden’s best-known business men, Richard H. Reeve, died suddenly yesterday at his home, at 701 Cooper street, from heart disease. He was in his 77th year. He is survived by a widow, one son and three daughters. Mr. Reeve had not been in good health for some time past, although he was in his office last Wednesday. He was secretary of the Cooper Estates and of the Board of Trustees of Cooper Hospital. He has had an active business career for many years.
Born at Alloway, N. J., October 5, 1840, he was a son of William and Mary Reeve and a grandson of William Cooper, for half a century one of Camden’s leading citizens. In 1862 he engaged in the lumber business at Albany and continued until 1868. He then went to Camden, where he established the first oilcloth industry, having associated with him the late Benjamin C. Reeve, his cousin. This firm became known all over the country.
In 1892 he gave up his active connection with this business and devoted his time to the management of the Cooper Estates and of Cooper Hospital, in whose growth he was a principal factor. He was a director of the National State Bank and the Camden City Dispensary.
He was married to Sarah W. Carpenter in 1862 at Salem, his wife being a descendant to Samuel Carpenter, a contemporary of William Penn. His children include Mrs. Edward Wood, of Riverton; Misses Hannah C. and Alice M. and Augustus H. Reeve, of Moorestown.