The prep students of the Radical University: Harvey O. Reese

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Harvey Oliver Reese (b. November 28, 1858; d. February 24, 1923)

South Carolina.  Born enslaved. Mulatto.
Occupation: Barber.
Father's occupation: Barber.

Harvey O. Reese was born in South Carolina in 1858.  Records are inconsistent about his parentage.  Harvey's death certificate lists his parents as John and Mattie Moore Reese. However, a Moss-Johnson-Reese family tree lists his parents as Alonzo and Sarah Bonam Reese.  Harvey was living with Alonzo and Sarah in 1870. 

Alonzo and Sarah were enslaved but largely allowed to live as free people of color. Alonzo worked as a barber and was well-regarded by the community. In May, 1869, he ran for warden for Columbia's Ward 1 on the "True Democracy" ticket in May, 1869.  The "True Democracy" ticket was a racially integrated ticket of Democratic candidates.  He was also a founding member of the Randolph Cemetery Association, an association that responsible for an African American Cemetery in Columbia.  

Harvey had matriculated into the University of South Carolina's preparatory program by January, 1876. The university closed before he completed his degree.

After the university's closure, Harvey remained in Columbia and worked as a barber.  However, in 1879 he moved to Newberry to take over the barbering business from a barber, James L. Ratley, who was leaving South Carolina for Kansas. Except for a brief return to Columbia in the 1880s, Harvey remained in Newberry and worked as a barber until his retirement.

Harvey was a well-regarded community member. In April 1917, Newberry held a "patriotic parade," presumably in support of the US's declaration of war against Germany and its entry into World War I. Harvey chaired a committee charged with organizing the "colored citizens" who were joining the parade. Other units participating were the several chapters of the United Daughters of he Confederacy and a chapter of the Children of the Confederacy. Of the 19 groups that marched in the parade, the "colored citizens" marched last.

In 1917, Harvey also helped organized Newberry African Americans to subscribed to the Red Cross Society. He chaired one of the first meetings and, at the meeting, the second largest amount for a Red Cross subscription.

Harvey retired in 1921, after 43 years of working as a barber in Newberry.  His retirement was reported by the Newberry Herald and News.  The newspaper wrote that "Reese was one of the best barbers that ever drew a razor in the city, and Newberry has a number of the finest barbers in the state"

Two years later (in 1923), Harvey died of heart disease. He is buried in Werts Cemetery in Newberry. 

Sources Cited

1)  1870; Census Place: Newberry, Newberry, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1504; Page: 646A; Family History Library Film: 553003

2) 1880; Census Place: Newberry, Newberry, South Carolina; Roll: 1235; Page: 18D; Enumeration District: 108

3) 1900; Census Place: Newberry, Newberry, South Carolina; Page: 13; Enumeration District: 0091; FHL microfilm: 1241536

4) 1910; Census Place: Newberry Ward 4, Newberry, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1461; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0103; FHL microfilm: 1375474

5) 1920; Census Place: Newberry Ward 4, Newberry, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1704; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 110

6) The Daily Phoenix, May 13, 1868, p. 3.

7) Moore, John Hammond. Columbia and Richland County: A South Carolina Community, 1740-1990. University of South Carolina Pres (1993). pp. 131, 140.

8) Columbia City Directory, 1879. 

9) "Gone to Kansas." The Newberry herald, December 17, 1879, p. 3.

10) The Newberry Herald.  February 09, 1882, Image 3

11) The Newberry Herald. February 08, 1883, Image 3

12) "Parade." The Herald and News. April 17, 1917, Image 1

13) "Newberry Colored People Subscribe to Red Cross." The Herald and News, June 22, 1917, p. 5.

14) "Newberry Colored People Subscribe to Red Cross" The Herald and News, June 22, 1917, p. 5.

15) "The Red Cross Meeting A Success." The Herald and News, November 16, 1917, p. 6.

16) The Herald and News, July 26, 1921, p. 8.