Joseph Reynolds long occupied a position among the leading residents of Mitchell County. His life record was ever honorable and upright and won for him the warm regard of those with whom he was brought in contact.
Mr. Reynolds was born in Weymouth, England, January 20, 1831, and his life covered the intervening period to the 16th of February 1913. His boyhood and youth were passed in his native country, where he acquired his education, and there remained until he reached the age of twenty years. He afterward came to the new world, settling in Salem, Wisconsin, where he remained for three years, and in 1855 he removed to Iowa, taking up his abode in Mitchell.
During the succeeding winter he engaged in cutting wood for H. I. Stacy, of Stacyville, and in the meantime he entered a claim on section 25, Union Township. He took up his abode upon the property in the spring of 1856 and there resided until his death. He first purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he paid five dollars per acre. Later he added eighty acres to his farm and his persistent energy and indefatigable industry enabled him to convert his land from a tract of wild prairie into richly productive fields, from which he annually gathered good harvests. He was a representative farmer of the county, progressive in all that he did, and his labors were fraught with good results.
On the 7th of March, 1861, Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss Vashti M. Robbison of Delhi, Pennsylvania, who was born September 18, 1833, and died on the 26th of October 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds became the parents of seven children: Joseph and Mary, both of whom died in infancy; Alma, now the wife of W. F. Brown, of Florida; Ed J. and Lawrence, both of whom are engaged in farming; Mary J., who on the 1st of October, 1913, married Hugh Stuckey and is residing on the home place; and William E., of Buhl, Idaho.
In his political views Mr. Reynolds was a republican but while he kept informed on the questions and issues of the day he did not seek office, not caring to figure in any public connection. He was a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Stacyville, in which he served as a trustee and steward, taking a most active and helpful part in the church work.
Mr. Reynolds secured the first claim in Union township and as an honored pioneer settler was closely identified with the development and progress of the county from that time until his death. He witnessed its entire growth and development and bore his full share in the task of promoting public progress. His was a useful and well spent life and all who knew him entertained for him warm regard by reason of his sterling worth.
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