REYNOLDS, Charles W. 1843-1909

REYNOLDS, WOODEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/24/2016 at 22:20:45

Death Summons Chas. W. Reynolds Very Suddenly

Dropped Dead Tuesday Evening While Attending Banquet and Installation of G.A.R. and W.R.C.

Heart Trouble Cause Of Death

Early Tuesday evening as a large number of the citizens were on their way to attend the annual banquet and installation of the W.R.Cs. and G.A.Rs. at the hall the city was startled by the news of the death of Chas. W. Reynolds, one of the charter members of the above organizations. Mr. Reynolds had been around town most of the day in his usual happy mode, and had assisted in the decoration of the hall in the afternoon. Shortly after five he left his home to attend the banquet. He was to have been installing officer for the G.A.Rs. Upon arriving at hall he bounded up the steps two at a time and made the remark while going up that his ears were cold. Upon reaching the cloakroom he removed his coat and was taken by Mrs. Reynolds to the front of the hall to meet Mrs. Schrack of Parkersburg, who was to be the installing officer for the W.R.Cs. Upon being introduced Mrs. Schrack made some remark about his G.A.R. button and after answering her in his usual jolly way he raised his foot to step upon the platform, threw up his hands and dropped dead. Effort were made to revive him, but of no avail. The hour of his passing away was about 20 minutes passed five o'clock. The cause of his death is given as heart failure. The end was in peace and without signs of pain.

In the death of Mr. Reynolds Grundy Center and Grundy county has lost one of her noblest citizens, and Wilson Post G.A.R. one of its most active members. He was a temperate, straight forward upright man in every respect. He came to Grundy Center when a young man and has made a place for himself in the history of Grundy that will always be remembered. He was public spirited in everything he undertook and has made an excellent record. He has held many offices of public trust and filled every position bestowed upon him with credit and ability.

He has made a success of life both as a public man and a business man, but never in his whole life has he been negligent in his efforts to serve his country both on the battle field and at home.

He was a veteran of the civil war and although called upon to experience many of the worst hardships of the war remained ever true and as soon as he was able after spending a year in the southern prisons, returned to his company and won for himself the tribute from Gen. Smith D. Watkins, who commanded the 92nd Illinois, which was published in the Freeport Journal Nov. 30, 1901, "C. W. Reynolds, of Grundy Center, Iowa, was one of the bravest and best soldiers among a regiment of bravemen.

Mr. Reynolds was a man who spent his best years in service for others, and all who knew him well beheld in him no selfishness, no thought for his own temporal wants, and he went to his eternal rest full of years and countless good deeds.

The funeral services will be held at the Presbyterian church Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Krome assisted by Rev. Black. The G.A.Rs. and Masons will attend the funeral in bodies, the G.A.Rs. being given the preference at the church, after which the Masons will take charge of the services to be held at the cemetery.

C. W. Reynolds was born in the state of Michigan, January 17, 1843 and died at Grundy Center, January 7, 1909 almost 66 years of age. He moved to Lanark, Ill., with his parents when he was three years of age, where he resided until the opening of the Civil War, when, although only nineteen years of age, he was one of the first to enlist. He enlisted in Company I, 92nd Illinois volunteers Aug. 2, 1862, was mustered out June 21, 1865, serving during most of the war with Wilders Brigade of mounted infantry as a dispatch bearer until captured at Nickajack, Ga., April 21, 1864, was confined in Andersonville, Florence and Charleston prisons until paroled on Feb. 24, 1865. His eldest brother, William, was killed at the battle of Nickajack Gap, April 23, 1864. Upon his recovery from the prison exposures he returned to his company and remained until mustered out.

After returning from the war he farmed in Illinois for a season, and then came west to seek his fortune in the new state. He arrived in Grundy Center in the spring of 1867, where he decided to make his future home.

He secured a farm northeast of Grundy Center which he added to since. He worked as a farm hand for several years later clerking in town for a number of years, after which he purchased a small drug store and was appointed postmaster, which appointment he held for about fourteen years. At that time he resigned the office of postmaster and moved upon his farm, where he resided for a number of years, when he again moved to Grundy Center, having been elected to the office of sheriff. He was afterwards Door Keeper and also Sargent at Arms of the Iowa Legislature. During the past ten years he has resided constantly in Grundy Center with exceptions of the winters he has spent in California.

On the 3rd of December 1872 he was united in marriage to Sally Wooden of Elkhorn Grove, Carroll county, Ill. Two sons were born to this marriage. John H. Reynolds who resides on the home place northeast of Grundy Center and N. W. Reynolds, our townsman and jeweler.

He leaves to mourn his death, a wife, two sons, five grandchildren, and three brothers and three sisters, out of a family of ten children, John L. Reynolds of Duluth, Lewis Reynolds of Polo, Geo. D. Reynolds of Salem, Oregon, Mrs. Josephine Wooden of Wooden, Mrs. Mary Crinklaw, of Lanark and Mrs. Phoebe Graham of Mt. Carroll, Ill.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 7 January 1909, pg 1