McREYNOLDS, Peter Amos - 1890 Bio (1814-1900)

MCREYNOLDS, ANDERSON, PRINCE, JONES, RANDALL, COLLINS, MCCORD, MCCOY, WEBB ROBINSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/16/2007 at 22:11:15

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 579-580

P. A. McREYNOLDS. The history of Jefferson County would be incomplete without this sketch, for our subject is one of her prominent citizens and honored pioneers, who for forty-six years has made his home upon section 19, Polk Township. He was born in Allen County, Ky., in 1814, being the sixth in a family of eleven children, whose parents were Edward and Sally (ANDERSON) McREYNOLDS. The McREYNOLDS family is of Irish origin and was founded in North Carolina during Colonial days. The paternal grandfather during the War for Independence entered the service as a private, but for meritorious conduct and bravery displayed on the field of battle was promoted to the rank of Major. The grandfather ANDERSON who was also a Revolutionary hero, was of Swedish descent. Edward McREYNOLDS, father of our subject, was a native of North Carolina, but duing his youth went to Tennessee and was married in Kentucky to Miss ANDERSON, who was born in Virginia. They began their domestic life upon a farm in Tennessee along the banks of the Cumberland River, but after a number of years, in 1831, removed to Indiana, locating in Gibson County, which continued to be their home until 1844. That year witnessed the arrival of the family in Jefferson County, Iowa, and upon a farm in Polk Township, Mr. McREYNOLDS spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1865, at the age of eighty-one years. The death of his wife occurred in 1852, at the age of sixty-three years.

Our subject was reared among the wild scenes of frontier life as during his boyhood days, Gibson County, Ind, was but sparsely settled. The privations of pioneer life were therefore not unfamiliar to him and in a measure he was prepared for his experience on this side of the Mississippi. He entered upon his business career as a farmer in Gibson County and was there married in 1840, to Clarissa PRINCE, a native of New York, and a daughter of Elijah and Caroline (JONES) PRINCE, the former born in Connecticut and the latter in the Empire State. In 1837 they became residents of Indiana, where both passed away, but Mrs. PRINCE survived her husband some twenty years.

Mr. McREYNOLDS continued his farming operations in Indiana until 1844, when enticed by the opportunities affored by the Territory of Iowa, he settled in Jefferson County. Entering eighty acres of land from the Government, he at once began its development, and greatly increased its value by the erection of a nice house and good barns. A one hundred and seventy-acre tract now pays tribute to his care and cultivation, but he has not attained to his present prosperous condition without laborious effort. His only property on his arrival in the county was a team and wagon and the latter he traded for his claim. He engaged in driving cattle to market and in various ways added to his capital until he could make another investment. At that day the Indians were about as numerous as the white settlers, wild game of all kinds was yet plentiful, the rude homes of the pioneers were widely scattered and the work of development and civilization seemed scarcely begun. In many ways, Mr. McREYNOLDS has aided in the growth and upbuilding of the community. He was one of the first school teachers in Polk Township, is said to have taught the first school in his district and has ever identified himself with the educational interests as he believes that to be an essential to good citizenship. He assisted in organizing the school district and has served on the School Board for thirty years. Socially, he is a member of Abingdon Lodge, No. 104, A. F. & A, M. and politically is a Republican.

In 1858, Mr. McREYNOLDS was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. By that union were born ten children, six yet living and four deceased -- George W. is married and resides in Ottumwa; Mary J. is now Mrs. RANDALL of Clay County, Neb.; O. H. is married and also makes his home in Clay County; John W. is living in Clay County; Lucilla is now Mrs. COLLINS of Kansas City; W. S. is married and resides in Clay County, Neb. Mr. McREYNOLDS was again married in Jefferson County, in 1859, his second union being with Miss (sic) Mary McCORD (sic - McCOY), who is a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (WEBB) ROBINSON. Her parents were also born in the Old Dominion and from Illinois removed to Jefferson County in 1844. They developed a farm in Polk Township but both are now deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. McREYNOLDS are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having been connected with it for many years, during which time they have labored for its interests and liberally supported the cause. Their lives are in accordance with their professions and their friends yield them the respect and confidence deserved by their worth (sic - worthy?) and upright lives.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.