McREYNOLDS BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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McREYNOLDS, William A. - b: 1833 Butler Co, KY
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 713
residence: Honey Creek Twp

William A. McReynolds was born February 1, 1833, in Butler County, Kentucky, his 
parents being Benj. S. McReynolds, born July 15, 1806, in Logan County, Kentucky, 
and Elizabeth Ann, nee Askew, who was born in July, 1809, in Campbell County, 
Virginia. They were married in July, 1830, in Logan County, Kentucky, and by this 
union had six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom our subject was the 
eldest son. Benjamin McReynolds remained a resident of Kentucky until his death. 
In youth he received only common school training, but being of studious habits 
became a most learned scholar. He learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it 
a number of years, and also took up carriage making, hiring several hands in that 
industry. He employed a blacksmith, and by degrees became skilled, to some 
extent, in that business also. He followed both occupations for several years, and 
finally turned his attention to the study of medicine, continuing the practice in 
after years, as taught by the Thompsonian schools of his day. Later in life he 
became a farmer, and the owner of quite a large tract of land in Kentucky, a part 
of which, proving rich in coal, he opened into mines, and did quite an extensive 
coal trade, shipping to different points both north and south. He served, during 
the early part of his career, as magistrate, for eighteen years or more, until (by 
virtue of the law of the state) he became sheriff, being the oldest official in the 
capacity of magistrate. This position he filled for one term. He was nominated in 
1845 for the state legislature, his opponent being Lot Moore, of the same county, 
but was defeated on account of his scruples against being elected as a whisky 
candidate. He was also a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the succeeding 
term, but died before the election, July 3, 1847. William A. McReynolds, at the 
death of his father was a lad of but fourteen. At the age of nineteen he left home, 
determined to seek his own fortune, and commenced by working at the 
carpenter's bench. He learned the trade in Clarksville, Tennessee, remaining there 
for three years and then returned to Todd County, Kentucky, where he entered into 
business as a builder and contractor, continuing it for several years. He was 
engaged in building at Cairo during one season, where he owned considerable city 
property. He spent one year in Illinois. In the year 1873 he was occupied during 
the winter in stock feeding, in company with a brother, and also for several years 
thereafter. Finally he decided to make Missouri his permanent home, and 
accordingly in the spring of 1882 bought a tract of nearly 1,200 acres, mostly in 
Honey Creek, Township, Henry County, his residence being on section 18. He has 
the supervision of his estates in both townships, much of his land lying in White 
Oak. All of it is devoted to farming purposes with the exception of forty acres of 
timber. Mr. McR. makes his home at present with Mrs. McKinney, his sister, a 
widowed lady, and her sons. He was once placed in nomination as a candidate in 
Todd County. Tennessee, for the legislature, on the Republican ticket, but was 
defeated through the treachery of some of his pretended friends, who had been 
instrumental in securing his nomination. He is Republican in sentiment, and has 
been since 1861. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of 
Elkton, Todd County, Kentucky, having never changed his membership from that 
place.

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