Surname: Reynolds, Hinshaw, Payne, Knight, Willis, Starr Compendium of BiographyOf Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920 EDWIN REYNOLDS It is with a large degree of pleasure that the biographer essays the task of recording the, more salient facts in the life career of the gentleman whose name appears above. His efforts towards advancing the material interests of the county are so well known that they form no secondary part of his career of signal usefulness. He belongs to that class of representative Americans who, While gaining individual success, also pro mote the public prosperity. Such men stand pre-eminent among those who have conferred honor and dignity upon their places of residence, no less by well-con ducted business interests than by upright lives and commendable conduct. Edwin Reynolds was born at Fountain City, Wayne County, Indiana, on the 4th of November, 1834, and is the son of Isaac and Sarah (Hinshaw) Reynolds. The Reynolds family is of English extraction, though the more recent ancestry of the subject are from North Carolina. Isaac Reynolds was born in the latter state and was there reared to manhood and received his education. He married Sarah Hinshaw, also a native of North Carolina. He was reared to the life of a farmer, but afterward learned the trade of milling. He came to Indiana and located, at Fountain City, where in 1834 he built the first steam gristmill erected in Wayne County. There he followed the milling business for seventeen years. At the end of that time he disposed of his mill there and went to Dalton, the same county, where he engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He passed the remainder of his life at Dalton, dying there in 1884. He was a public- spirited man and his purse was always open to all worthy enterprises or movements for the public good. He was an ardent abolitionist and did all in his power to abate the institution of slavery. He was a Republican from the organization of that party and in religion was a member of the Friends Church. He was the father of twelve children, seven Sons and five daughters. Whose names were as follows: Clarkson, Milton, Francis. Edwin, Albert. Henry. Harvey, Martha, Julia A. Emily J., Louisa and Ellen. Edwin Reynolds was reared at the Wayne County home and was early accustomed to the hum of the sawmill and decide to make that his life work. He had attended the common schools of his neighborhood and acquired a fair education, but remained at home assisting his father until he had attained his majority when, in 1858, he came to Henry County and engaged in the lumber business near the town of Moorland. He remained in that location until 1873, when he moved his mill to Straughn, which remained his business location until 1900, when he retired from an active participation in business. He has always been a moneymaker and has lived comfortably, though he has not amassed very much property.Mr. Reynolds has been three times married. His first wife was Amanda C. Payne, widow of Jesse Payne. To his union with this lady one son was born, Charles, who died in infancy. This wife died in 1864, and his second marriage was with Miss Phoebe J. Knight. To the subject and this wife was born one child, Martha, who married William E. Willis and resides in Dudley Township, this County. Mrs. Phoebe J. Reynolds died in 1875, and the subject subsequently married Mrs. Almira Starr, by whom he became the father of one child, Frank S., born September 18, 1880. He was educated in the common and high schools at Straughn and also took a course in a business college at Indianapolis, and is now bookkeeper for Cox & Yockey at Rushville, Indiana.Politically the subject has always been a stanch Republican and has been active in advancing the interests of that party. While residing in Wayne County he was elected to the position of trustee of his township and served in that position seven years, resigning upon his removal to Henry County. He has also served in the office of trustee of Dudley Township, this County, for four years and performed the duties of the office in a most acceptable manner. In religion he and his Wife are both members of the Christian church and are active and faithful in the performance of their church obligations. Fraternally he is a member of the subordinate lodges of Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He has been a member of the first-named order for the long period of forty-four years and was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Lewisville. He has twice been a candidate for the nomination for county auditor, but each time failed of nomination. He is a man of strong personality and strength of character, which easily places him among the most influential residents of the county and his zeal in whatever cause he espouses is the signal of its success. He is public spirited to a degree and gives his most earnest support to all measures which promise to advance the public welfare.