My Genealogy Hound

Henry C. Reynolds, a merchant and farmer of Willmathsville, is a native of Clay Township, and was born January 1, 1855, reared in the same county, and educated at the common schools and at North Missouri State Normal at Kirksville. In 1875 he entered his brother’s store at Willmathsville as a clerk, and in 1877 married Miss Charlotte, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Parcells. They had two children: Owey Ottis and Eva Leota. Mrs. Reynolds died February 8, 1883, and September 3, of the same year he married Miss Sarah A., daughter of Francis and Marion Jones, by whom he has had two children: Bertie M. (deceased) and Ina. He returned to the farm prior to his first marriage, but in 1878 went back to the store, purchasing the stock in 1879 and continuing the business until September, 1882. In 1885 he again resumed the mercantile business at the same place, and has since continued the business, also running a store at Greensburg, Knox County, in 1885 and 1886. He carries a stock of general merchandise worth about $8,500, and is also the owner of 100 acres of land; was appointed postmaster in 1879, which office he resigned in 1882. He is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Garfield in 1880. Mrs. Reynolds is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parents of our subject, William B. and Mary Ann Reynolds, were natives of Kentucky, and born in 1807 and 1812, respectively. Soon after their marriage in 1835 they removed to Madison County, Ill., and engaged in farming and stock raising, afterward moving to La Grange in Lewis County, where the father engaged in saw-milling. In 1854 he moved his saw-mill to Adair County, locating on the cottonwood branch of the South Fabius, where he also erected a grist-mill. He became one of the wealthy farmers of the county, owning nearly 3,000 acres of land at one time. Besides his agricultural pursuits he was at one time interested in the store at Willmathsville, and was a man of good business capacity. He died February 1, 1878. His wife died June 10, 1872, and was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church during her lifetime.