History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 197 - 198

GEORGE A. REYNOLDS

Fulfilling all of life's requirements according to his highest ideal of right, aiding the spirit of enterprise and improvement, and using his influence for what benefits humanity and builds up the community, it may be truly said of the worthy subject of this review "He has made the world better by having lived in it." He is an old resident of Selma township, Wexford county. His life has been an active and busy one, but he is now living a somewhat retired life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his labors. George A. Reynolds, the subject of this review, resides on a part of section 11, Selma township, Wexford county. He was born in West Granville, Washington county, New York, August 27, 1817, and is therefore at the present time in the eighty-sixth year of his age. When he was eight years old, in 1825, the family moved to Onondaga county, New York, where they resided some four years. They then removed to Allegany county, New York, where Mr. Reynolds grew to manhood and where he became skilled in the trade of a cooper, which business he followed for more than a quarter of a century. In Allegany county, New York, on the 4th day of July, 1842, George A. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Thorpe, who proved a most faithful and dutiful wife. She lived to the age of sixtyeight years, following the fortunes of the family from New York to Missouri, back again to New York and thence to Selma township, Wexford county, Michigan, where she died in September, 1885, ending a well spent life in peace and contentment. They were the parents of three children, viz.: Orin was a soldier in the Federal army during the war of the Rebellion and was taken prisoner at Newbern, North Carolina; he was one of the unfortunates incarcerated in Andersonville prison and perished there from starvation and exposure; Cora is the wife of Alonson De Bow; Nettie is the wife of Dr. John Sabin, a resident of Couer De Leon, Idaho. Immediately after their marriage the subject of this review and his wife established themselves in a home of their own in Allegany county, New York, where they resided many years, he working at his business as a cooper, in which calling he was quite prosperous. A desire to see more of the country and to find a location where his services would receive better remuneration caused him to move his family to Newton county, Missouri, where for a time he was employed at his trade. It took but three years to gratify his taste for the southwest and the family again returned to New York, taking up their residence this time in Livingston county. There they lived until August, 1877, when he gave up his business of coopering, moved west to Wexford county, Michigan, located on a portion of section 11, Selma township, and became a farmer. There he has since lived, there his good an faithful wife died and there the evening of his life is being spent in that quiet contentment and peace which he has so richly earned. The early life of George A. Reynolds was spent in a Quaker settlement. His parents were of that faith and in it he was brought up. Though separated for many years from people of that faith he still adheres to a belief in the doctrines of that sect. They have guided and directed him throughout his long life and ruled and governed his conduct in his dealing with his fellow men, with the result that he is honored, respected and beloved wherever he is known, for the gentleness of his nature and the rigid moral principles which govern his life. Though now in the eighty-sixth year of his age, he is wonderfully well preserved and the mental and physical strength which he still possesses would do credit to a man twenty years younger. No one who enjoys his acquaintance and who is familiar with his good habits and mode of life doubts that he will easily reach the century mark as the measure of his existence. Indeed at present there seems to be no reason apparent why it should not extend far beyond that time.