A. C. REYNOLDS, a veteran of the Confederate army, actively and successfully interested in agricultural pursuits in Montague county, was born in middle Tennessee, October 21, 1832, and was reared upon the home farm of his parents, Henry and Mary (Brown) Reynolds, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. The father was descended from an honored and old Virginian family and was one of nine children: William, Benjamin, James, John, Henry, Betsy, the wife of A. B. Campbell; David, Richard and Andrew.
Henry Reynolds was born in Kentucky, and with his parents removed to Tennessee, where he was reared to manhood and married. He was a blacksmith by trade and followed that pursuit in middle Tennessee for a number of years, after which he removed to Alabama, settling on vacant land. There he also engaged in blacksmithing, in connection with which he improved a farm, making it his home up to the time of his death, which occurred in October, 1886, when he had attained the advanced age of eighty-six years. He lived the life of a plain mechanic and farmer, never aspiring to public office but respected by all for his genuine worth of character. His wife, who passed away in 1844, was a daughter of John Brown, of Virginia, who became a pioneer resident of Alabama, where he followed farming throughout his remaining days. In politics he was a Democrat and he became a highly respected and worthy resident of the community in which he made his home. He [John Brown] was twice married, the children of the first union being Mrs. Rany A. Horton and Mrs. Mary Reynolds, while the children of the second marriage were: William, Mort, James, Fred, Tom and Mrs. Dolly Reynolds, the second wife of Henry Reynolds, father of our subject; and Ibby.
The children of the Reynolds family were: Andrew, who died in Alabama leaving a wife and two children; Sally, the wife of H. Duke; John, a blacksmith; Arthur C.; Mrs. Elizabeth Wilborn; Mrs. Ann Maples; David, who served in the Confederate army; Mrs. Nancy Brown; and Mrs. Lucinda Davis.
A. C. Reynolds was born in middle Tennessee and when ten years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Alabama, where he was reared, remaining under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age. In 1857 he removed to Titus county, Texas, where he was employed until 1861, when he enlisted in the Confederate army under Captain Beason in Maxie’s regiment, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. He participated in many hotly contested engagements and skirmishes, including the battles of Murfreesboro, Franklin, Perryville, Chickamauga and others of less importance. He saw hard service, undergoing all the deprivations and hardships of war. He was never taken prisoner but he was three times wounded, sustaining two flesh wounds, one through a part of the shoulder that has since been a constant source of annoyance to him. He was a faithful soldier, always on duty, displaying valor and loyalty on the field of battle, and never but once did he receive a furlough and that near the close of the war, making a visit to his home in February, 1865. On the expiration of his term he started back to join his command but while on the way heard that Lee has surrendered and returned home, so that Mr. Reynolds himself never surrendered.
In August, 1865, A. C. Reynolds was married in Titus county and settled on a tract of unimproved land, which he at once began to cultivate, remaining there until November, 1877, when he removed to Montague county and later sold the Titus county farm, investing in land in the county where he still resides. He bought three hundred and twenty acres, which he yet owns. He has built a more spacious house here with good barns and outbuildings and how has a well improved farm property three miles northeast of Nocona, where he carries on general agricultural pursuits, raising diversified crops, and when the open range last he raised and handled stock, being quite successful. He largely raises wheat, oats, short cotton and corn and although there have been a few years in which the drought has been detrimental to his harvests he has always raised enough to support his family and in the main has been successful. He is certainly well surrounded by pleasant neighbors and friends. He successfully carried on his farm work until 1890, when he bought five acres adjoining the corporation limits of Nocona and built thereon a commodious residence and other necessary buildings and retired from active farm labor, turning over the work of the home place to his sons, who were instructed by him in the best methods of carrying on the farm.
Politically Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat but has never sought or desired public office, content to devote his energies to his business affairs. He is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and both he and his wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star.
Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Mary Malissa Loving, who was born in Calhoun county, Mississippi, July 15, 1847, and is a daughter of Solon A. and Ann (Stevens) Loving, both of whom were natives of Alabama, but were married in Mississippi, whence they came to Texas in 1849, settling first in Marion county, where Mr. Loving engaged in farming and raising cattle. In 1856 he removed his family and stock to Palo Pinto county in order to secure the benefit of wider range and there he suffered the hardships and dangers of pioneer life because of Indian depredations, so in 1858 returned with his family to eastern Texas for safety, while he went with his herd to Montague county and located his ranch on Victoria Peak. He still suffered because of the Indian thieving propensities but continued to hold his ranch for a number of years. He was the first white man that ever drove a herd of cattle through the cross timbers of Montague county. He continued to hold his ranch until 1861, when he left his stock with his herdman and enlisted for service in the Confederate army, where he continued for a year, when on account of illness and an accident he was paroled and sent home but never recovered his health sufficiently to return to the army, remaining in eastern Texas. While he lived at his home there his hired man to conduct the ranch and sold beef cattle, reducing his herd in this manner until finally he sold out entirely form the cattle business. Later he removed to his farm in Titus county, where he lived until 1877, when he bought a large farm in Montague county, of which he is still the owner. This he conducted successfully for a number of years but he is now living retired at Nocona, where he and his wife reside in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He has invested in some stone business houses here and he now possesses a competency for old age. He is widely known and highly respected, being recognized as a man of unquestioned integrity in his business affairs. His wife, Catherine A. Stevens, was born in Alabama, April 17, 1828, and was a daughter of Joseph G. and Salina (Pruitt) Stevens, the former a native of the District of Columbia and of Irish descent, while the latter was a native of South Carolina. Her father was a farmer by occupation and settled in Mississippi, where he conducted a plantation with the aid of his slaves. He served for two years in the Confederate army and both he and his wife died in Mississippi, his death occurring in 1864, while his wife passed away in 1870. The members of the Pruitt family were: Valentine, M. M., Salina and Eleanor. Salina became the wife of a twin brother of Joseph G. Pruitt [Joseph G. Stevens] prior to her marriage to the last named and both brothers were soldiers of the Revolutionary War. Her children by her first marriage were: William, John, Mrs. Betsy Brock and Mrs. Nancy Yarnell. The mother was a Presbyterian in her religious faith.
Mr. and Mrs. Stevens became the parents of ten children: Margaret E., now Mrs. Williams; F. D., who died in Mississippi; E. D., who died in Mississippi; Mrs. Catherine A. Loving; Mrs. Ulrika Thompson; Mary F., the wife of Dr. Land; Salina G., the wife of Dr. McKrut; Isaac S., who died in childhood; Joseph R., a farmer and stock dealer; John, who died in the army; and Horace M., an agriculturist.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Loving was blessed with six children: M. Malissa, who is now Mrs. Reynolds; Joseph, living in the Indian Territory; William, who died at the age of fifteen years; Martha, who died at the age of five years; Anna, who married Mr. Gray and after his death became Mrs. Bush; and Chapman, who is living in Bowie, Texas. Both Mr. and Mrs. Loving are consistent members of the Methodist church, highly esteemed by all who know them.
To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have been born thirteen children: Dora, the wife of S. Allen; Robert, who died and left a wife and one child; Fanny, the wife of John Davis; Maggie, the wife of John Fitzworth; Sallie, who died at age of fourteen years; Maud, the wife of W. Maples; Flora, the wife of A. Brown; Ord, who married J. Dobbins; Rose, who wedded E. Taylor; Nona M., who died at the age of six years; Henry, who is a student in a business college; David Crockett and Arthur, both at home. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have every reason to be proud of their family, for their sons and daughters have taken up the work of life in able manner. The parents, having a wide acquaintance in Montague county, enjoy the good will and confidence of all who know them and justly deserve mention in this volume.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas, Vol. II (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), pp. 182-184.
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