Reynolds - Jesse
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 14 March 1902 p 5
Jesse O. Reynolds father of Hugh Reynolds who attended high school here five years ago died at Bluff Mills Monday. Rev. SK Fuson preached the funeral Tuesday. - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 21 March 1902
Jesse Reynolds died at his home Monday morning, March 10, 1902. He was born in Lexington, Ky., about 75 years ago. He married Bettie Cook. He had worked 45 years in the flour mill for Uncle Joel Deere and gave entire satisfaction in every way. His life as well as his judgment is as good as ever man gets to be. He has been sick for almost two years with consumption, but during the while he did not complain. He always said, “I’m ready to go home.”
He leaves a wife and one son to mourn his loss. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge which proved faithful in his last sickness. The friends and neighbors extend their sympathy to the bereft ones. - s
Source: Waveland Independent, March 14, 1902
Jesse Reynolds died at his home at Bluff Mills, Monday morning March 10 after six weeks illness with consumption. He had been ailing for about two years. He was buried at Freedom, Tuesday morning after funeral services at the home conducted by Rev S.K. Fuson of Rockville. The ceremonies at the grave were in charge of the Masonic Fraternity. He was born in Lexington Ky September 4, 1826. In 1839 he removed with his parents to Indiana and settled on the farm now owned by William Rice at that time all green woods, and there lived to manhood. March 23, 1854 he married Annie Elizabeth Cook and to them were born four sons of whom but the youngest Hugh, survives. He united with the Missionary Baptist Church at Freedom was baptized by Elder Reese Davis, and has ever lived an earnest Christ Life. He was a Mason for 45 years, belonging first to the Alamo Lodge which he left to become one of the charter members of the Waveland Lodge 39 years ago. For 47 years he has been in the employ of the Deere family as miller at the Bluff Mills. Concerning this faithful service, we quote from an article published a few years ago in a local paper: "Everybody in Brown Township and indeed hundreds of people outside, are acquainted with Uncle Jesse Reynolds, who has been for so many years identified with Bluff Mills and in the employ of Joel Deere. When the father of Mr. Deere built the dam and mill at the present site he employed Jesse Reynolds, then a lusty youth to assist about a mill and farm. This was 42 years ago and from that day to this Reynolds has lived on that very farm and been in the employ of the Deere family. Not a day has his service varied, but from year to year the contract for his labor has been renewed and he has followed the same old path, the same workaday life. The gold fever was at its height when he entered the service and when he was in his prime the great rebellion called thousands from their farms and workshops. His companions and friends would leave for the West, that Eldorado where fortune awaited them, but Reynolds moved not. As he stood in the mill door, as the sun sank behind the high stone bluffs, while covered wagons bound for the poor man's mecca pass by headed westward. Men waiting for turns at the mill discussed the mighty strides of the world beyond the hills. It was the same old life for Jesse Reynolds though, and as years passed slowly by he was still to be found at his post. Was it because he lacked the energy and ambition of other men? His neighbors tell us otherwise. He was married to an invalid and through all these years in which other men, no better, no brighter, no more thrifty than he acquired fortune and even fame he stood at his post of duty. Never quite able to get enough ahead to begin for himself in fact bravely maintaining a struggle against poverty, he is nevertheless as great a man as many who have attained much greater things". - kbz
Note: Not sure this is the same Jesse Reynolds - certainly same place - Deers Mill -- only one buried in Montgomery County is: Jesse Joshua Reynolds 4 Sept 1826 - 10 March 1902 - buried Freedom Cemetery - perhaps he got better for his wife :)
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 8 Sept 1892 ?
In America the average human life is one of change and vacillation. Even those rare persons who follow one occupation through life, as a general thing change their scene of action several times in the course of their history. Monotonous, unvarying, hum drum life is a thing of the old world, but occasionally a man is even unearthed in our midst whose life has been one of routine and confined sphere. Everybody in Brown Township and, indeed, hundreds of people outside are acquainted with uncle Jesse Reynolds, who for so many years has been identified with the Bluff Mills and in the employ of Joel Deere. When the father of Mr. Deere built the dam and mill at the present site of the Bluff Mills, he employed Jesse Reynolds, then a lusty youth, to assist about the mill and farm. This was forty-two years ago, and from that day to this, Reynolds has lived on that very farm and been in the employ of the Deere family. Not a day has his service varied, but year after year, the contract for his labor has been renewed and he has followed the same old path, the same old workaday life. The gold fever was at its height when he entered service and when he was in his prime, the great rebellion called thousands from their farms and work shops. His companions and acquaintances would leave for the West, that El Dorado where fortune awaited them, but Reynolds moved not. As he stood in the mill door, as the sun sank behind the high stone bluffs, white covered wagons bound for the poor man’s Mecca, passed by headed westward. Men waiting for ‘turns’ at the mill discussed the mighty strides of the great world beyond the hills. It was the same old life for Jesse Reynolds though, and as the years passed slowly by he was still to be found at his post. Was it because he lacked the energy and ambition of other men? His neighbors tell us otherwise. He was married to an invalid and through all these years in which other men, no brighter, no better, no more thrifty than he, acquired fortune, and even fame, he stood at his post of duty. Never quite able to get enough ahead to begin for himself, in fact, bravely maintaining a struggle against poverty, he is nevertheless as great a man as many who have attained much greater things. He has ever been devoted to his invalid wife, and for her he has braved all things and endured all things. For the past few weeks, he has been quite low and his death is expected any day. He will pass away as quietly as he has lived, but to those who knew him, his life is a lesson. It is a beautiful example of fidelity, gentleness, and patience.
Note: Anna Elizabeth Cook Reynolds 1836-1930