Joseph O. Reynolds

  General Notes:

Biographical Sketch of J. O. Reynolds, Leeton, Johnson County, Missouri
From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.

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J. O. Reynolds, cashier of the Farmers Bank of Leeton, Missouri, is one of Johnson county's most progressive, young citizens. He is a member of one of the best and most prominent families in the county. He was born just across the county line in Henry county, December 30, 1880, the son of W. F. and Sallie B. (Robinson) Reynolds. W. F. Reynolds was born July 28, 1854 in North Carolina. He is the son of Samuel M. and Elvira (Fewel) Reynolds, natives of North Carolina. W. F. Reynolds came, with his parents to Missouri in 1857, where they located in Henry county. Samuel Reynolds was killed August 16, 1862 at the battle of Lonejack, Missouri, while serving in Cockrell's regiment. His widow married W. T. Wilson, a veteran of the confederacy, and they are now residing on the farm in Henry county. A sketch of Mrs. W. T. Wilson appears in this volume. W. F. Reynolds was a student at the Warrensburg State Normal School. At the first Sunday School he attended, Francis M. Cockrell was his teacher. That was early in the seventies. W. F. Reynolds and Sallie B. Robinson were united in marriage October 15, 1878 in Warrensburg and to them were born the following children:
Joseph O., the subject of this review; John R., who resides on the home place; Anna Belle, at home with her parents; and M. Dearing, who resides on the home place. Sallie B. (Robinson) Reynolds was born in Johnson county, October 15, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are now residing on the home place four and a half miles south of Leeton, Mo. Joseph O. Reynolds attended the grade schools of Shawnee Mound, the Warrensburg State Normal School one year, and the State University of Missouri at Columbia one year. After leaving college, he engaged in farming for a short time and then entered the mercantile business in partnership with R. L. Garrett, under the firm name of Garrett & Reynolds. Later John R. Reynolds, brother of Joseph O., bought out Garrett and the firm continued in business under the name, Reynolds Brothers. The brothers traded the stock for a farm of 160 acres in Henry county and Joseph O. Reynolds then spent one year in Colorado. Upon his return he again engaged in farming, on the home place, and until 1911 accepted the assistant cashiership of that bank. In May, 1913, he was elected cashier, succeeding H. F. Finks, who resigned his position to accept a similar one with Brinkenhoff Faris Trust & Savings Company of Clinton, Mo. The Farmers Bank of Leeton has experienced a remarkable growth and is one of the splendid banks of Johnson county, of which all are proud. October 11, 1905, Joseph O. Reynolds was united in marriage with Nellie Garrett, the daughter of W. A. and Alice (Walker) Garrett, of Bowen, Missouri. Mrs. Garrett is now deceased and Mr. Garrett resides on the home place near Bowen. To Joseph O. and Nellie (Garrett) Reynolds have been born two children: William James, born April 15, 1915; and a daughter Alice Belle, born August 26, 1917. Mr. Reynolds is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Leeton, the Modern Woodmen of America of Leeton, and the B.P.O.E. of Warrensburg. The Farmers Bank of Leeton, Missouri was organized in May, 1911, with a capital stock of $20,000 and began business July 11, 1911. The first officers of the bank were as follow: A. C. Todd, president; W. T. Baker, vice-president; Guilford Morris, 2nd vice-president; H. F. Finks, secretary and cashier; J. O. Reynolds, assistant cashier; and A. C. Todd, W. T. Baker, Guilford Morris, J. H. Boone, Moses Nehr, J. W. Stewart, L. C. Abington, S. L. Miller, F. G. Cooper, William Hinton, Dr. J. T. Anderson, T. J. Don Carlos, W. F. Reynolds, J. W. Shoemaker, A. S. Michael, directors. The present capital stock of the bank is $20,000, with a surplus fund of $5,000, undivided profits of $3,000, and deposits, at the time of this writing, amounting to $130,000. The bank officials now are: A. C. Todd, president; W. T. Baker, first vice president; Guilford Morris, 2nd vice-president; J. O. Reynolds, secretary and cashier; Henly Stacy, assistant cashier; and G. L. Hall, L. C. Albington, J. W. Shoemaker, A. C. Todd, W. F. Reynolds, J. H. Booner, S. L. Miller, W. T. Baker, Moses Nehr, F. G. Cooper, Wm. Hinton, Guilford Morris, W. T. Des Combes, Henly Stacy, J. O. Reynolds, directors. The bank owns its building, furniture, and fixtures, which are valued at more than $5,000. From the time the bank opened its doors it has had an excellent business. The people have the utmost confidence in this institution, due to the careful and efficient management. J. O. Reynolds, the capable, young cashier, is thoroughly wide-awake and a "booster" for all projects which will help the little city of Leeton and the surround country. The stockholders and officers of the Farmers Bank have from the start been home people.

Joseph married Nellie Washington Garrett, daughter of William Adrian (Ade) Garrett and Alice D. Walker, on 11 Oct 1905 in Windsor, (Henry) Johnson, MO. (Nellie Washington Garrett was born in Dec 1883 in Jefferson Township, Johnson Co., Missouri, died on 20 Jul 1965 in Webster Groves, Missouri and was buried in Sunset Hills Cemetery, Warrensburg, Missouri.)

  Marriage Notes:

Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 <http://www.ancestry.com>
Name: Joe O Reynolds
Marriage Date: 11 Oct 1905
Marriage Location: Windsor, Missouri
Marriage County:Henry
Spouse Name: Nellie W Garrett