Distinguished Banker, Civic Leader and Early Leader of St John's Cemetery

Submitted by John Appleyard

James Simpson Reese and later his son, Wright Reese(1901-1986) played important roles in the development and growth of St. John's Cemetery, as well as the banking and business industries of Pensacola.

Banker James Simpson Reese was of Welsh stock (the original spelling of the family name was Rys) whose first American members arrived on the east coast in 1700. There were several branches, the one led by Rev. David Reese landing at New Castle, Delaware. One of his sons, also named David, ultimately moved to North Carolina where, in 1775, he was a signer of the famed Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence. Five of David's sons fought in the American Revolution. David Reese had married Susan Polk, a family whose descendants would include U. S. President James K. Polk, and other leaders in national and state governments.

The second David Reese sired a family of ten children, one of whom was George Reese, who in time married Anna Story of Sumter, South Carolina. Miss Story was of Huguenot origin and from a distinguished Carolina family.

George and Anna Reese had eleven children, the seventh of whom was Thomas Sidney. He married Susan McGregor in 1827, and ten children were born to that union. Their fourth child, George, was born in 1834 and ultimately was married to Anna Pickens Simpson of Pensacola. George Reese fought for the Confederacy, lived for a time in Alabama, then spent his final thirty years in Pensacola. One of his sons was James Simpson. Brought up shortly after the Civil War, young James Simpson Reese shared the meager educational resources of the time but did gain a common school education in Pensacola. Then, in 1881, he began work as a clerk with the newly opened First National Bank. Reese soon recognized his educational shortcomings. He resigned his position and entered the new Agricultural and Mechanical College at Auburn, Alabama. This he attended for several terms before returning to Pensacola to accept employment with a lumber exporter. Within months, leaders at the First National Bank approached the young man with an offer he could not refuse. The bank then had an array of well connected leaders... D. F. and M. H. Sullivan, W. A. Wheeler, John Pfeiffer and Louis P. Knowles to recount a few...and Reese soon impressed them all. He became assistant cashier, remaining there until 1904 when he was offered the opportunity to become president of a new organization. The Peoples Bank of Pensacola. This institution grew rapidly and in 1908 was converted to national bank status. Others on the board of this bank included Richard M. Cary, J. W. Dorr, Sol Cahn and E. W. Menefee. Later, J. J. Hooten and T. E. Welles became board members.

In 1911, directors of this bank and the Citizens National Bank of Pensacola agreed to merge their institutions, creating the Citizens & Peoples National Bank. Reese was named president. Seven years later, following the failure of the First National Bank, the C&P acquired the neo-Grecian bank building at 215 South Palafox Street and Reese settled into a role which saw him become the heart of local conservative finance until his death.

In 1894 Reese married Laura Lamenda Wright, daughter of George W. and M. Emma Wright, a family which had been active in business and public affairs locally for many years. J. Simpson and Laura had four children, three of whom survived infancy. These were Valariue, George Wright and Jamie. The eldest son, who would become best known as Wright, would follow his father into the bank and become its leader over more than half a century.

James Simpson Reese was a Democrat (often backing worthy candidates but never active himself), a devout member of the Presbyterian Church (as his elders had been for generations), a Mason, and a member of the Shrine. Socially, he was a member of the Osceola and Country clubs.

Perhaps the story of greatest lasting interest was Simpson Reese's banking skill in Depression times. When other banks across the country were failing, his stood firm. When President Franklin Roosevelt called for a bank closing and moratorium, Reese objected, saying if banks were as solid as his, there was no need to alarm the public.

James Simpson Reese and George Wright Reese are buried in 2 North Section 17.