My Genealogy Hound

William J. Reynolds, assistant cashier of the People’s Exchange Bank at Russellville, was born in Pope County, Ark., in 1846, and was the second of ten children born to William and Josinor (Matthews) Reynolds, both natives of Tennessee. The parents came to Arkansas in 1839, and are still residents of this State, living at Atkins. William J. Reynolds was educated in the common schools of this county, and when twenty-one years of age, started out to fight his way in life as a merchant, engaging in business with his father at Dover. They continued in business at that place until 1871, under the title William Reynolds & Son, and then moved to Atkins, where they continued for three years. Our subject then became assistant station agent and operator at Russellville, continued in that capacity for five years, and then was at Clarksville one year, filling the same position. After this he returned to Pope County, and in the fall of 1880 was elected circuit and county clerk, which office he held for one term (two years). He was then station agent until 1885, and was then appointed postmaster at Russellville, continuing in that position until May, 1889. In March of the following year, on the organization of the above mentioned bank, he was elected to his present position. Mr. Reynolds was married on the eighteenth of April, 1871, to Miss Sarah R. Lewis, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of Dr. J. O. Lewis, who came to Pope County in 1859, dying here the following year. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the various degrees of Masonry, Blue Lodge No. 274, Chapter No. 76 and Palestine Commandery No. 7, all of Russellville. He has been secretary of the chapter for nine years, and recorder of the commandery for five years. He owns a neat cottage in Russellville which he erected in 1889, and is one of the representative citizens. He has been a member of the Board of Aldermen of many years.