He was brevetted brigadier general for gallantry at the battles of Ream's Station, Deep Bottom, Five Forks, and Sailor's Creek.

[11] Ives was a survivor of the sinking of the British ocean liner RMS Republic in January 1909.

He possessed a Gutenberg Bible, and early printed editions of Euclid and of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

[1] In addition to the ceramics and art, Ives made a collection of rare and historical swords.

When he ceased collecting, the swords were sold, and through the efforts of Mr. Heber R. Bishop, William Thompson Walters and the American Art Association, the valuable sword collection, valued at $15,000, was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.