Green B. REYNOLDS was born December 5, 1827 in Washington County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. He was left an orphan when quite young.

In the year 1848, he was married to Ellen Arminta SINGLETON of Washington, County, Indiana. She was also an orphan. After their marriage, they lived a short time in Indiana. One son, Clark REYNOLDS, was born in Indiana. Later, they moved to Tama County, Iowa. Two children, Adalyne and Evalyne, were born in Tama County. On November 1, 1855, the family moved to Ringgold County. They entered the land of which was to become their home for their remaining years. This is where ten of their sixteen children grew to adulthood. Six of the children died at a young age.

Green B. REYNOLDS was a strong Democrat. He was alson a member of the I.O.O.F. He loved farming his land and raising livestock. He worked his farm ground with oxen. He shipped carloads of livestock to Chicago.

Ellen Arminta SINGLETON REYNOLDS loved her home and housework. She took great interest in the welfare of her large family. She spun her own yarn, did her knitting, and did all her sewing for her family by hand. She enjoyed smoking her pipe which was made of clay.

At one time, the Indians camped on the Platte River bottom land about two miles west of the REYNOLDS home. The Indians would come and grind their tomahawks on the REYNOLDS' old grindstone. The REYNOLDS were quite generous with the Indians and would give them flour, meal and plenty of meat from the old meat barrell. They would often-times wonder what might happen next. Their closest neighbor was Grandpa and Grandma HALL. They lived where the Gale DALTON place was.

On July 10, 1878, Green B. REYNOLDS met with a serious accident on Wolf Creek, close by the Harry SKIDMORE tombstone, where he was crushed to death by a falling tree. The tree was being cut to get a swarm of bees. His funeral was held in the yard at the home. He is buried in the SHAY [a.k.a. Platte River] Cemetery two miles west of Maloy. At the time of his death, he was the owner of six hundred acres of land between the Platte River and the Grand River

Guy's son, Eldon Guy DILLENBURG, is the owner of the land. Green B. REYNOLDS gave each living child forty acres of land and some livestock.

After the death of her husband, Ellen Arminta toiled on, carying for her family. There were two fires after the death of Green B. REYNOLDS. The barn burned first, and Ellen Arminta had it rebuilt. A few years later, her house burned. She had a smoke-house built for her family to live in while the new house was being built. In later years, the people that owned the house had a kitchen added onto the north side, otherwise, it was like she had it built. The place has changed hands several times since the REYNOLDS lived there. Some people may know it as the Kyle PACE place. As of this date, it is owned by Bill ANDREWS. The house no longer is standing.

Ellen Arminta had her trials and temptations, but fought her battles in a loving way until death called her away on March 2, 1888, due to blood poisoning caused from frozen feet. Her funeral was held in the West Point schoolhouse and she was buried beside her husband in the Shay Cemetery, two miles west of Maloy.

At the time of Ellen Arminta's death, there were four children yet at home: Elizabeth (Lizzie), Emma, and the twins, Harry and Harriet. They remained on the home place and boarded teachers that taught at West Point school. They did this more for company than anything. They drove a team of white mules to Old Goshen, where they took their produce.

On September 19, 1889, Lizzie and L.C. HALEY were married. They stayed on the home place. On February 9, 1890, Emma married Peter Herb DILLENBURG and they settled on the forty acres that her parents had given her and what was to become the DILLENBURG home place. This is where their seven children were born, and where six of them grew to adulthood. Harriet made her home with Lizzie and Emma until her marriage to John KELLER. Harry worked for his brother, John, until his marriage to Ella KELLER.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. Pp. 186-87. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

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