Mrs. Ellen Reynolds, widow of the late Abram Reynolds, of Hanover, came to this county in her earliest youth with her parents, and during a residence of forty-six years, has witnessed with the deepest interest, the growth and development of one of the richest sections of the Great West. Of New England ancestry, she was born in Coos County, N. H., May 29, 1827, and is the daughter of Silas and Mary (Belcher) Marshall, the father a native of New Hampshire, and the mother of Vermont. Gen. Putnam of Revolutionary fame, was a relative of her father, and the family was widely and favorably known throughout a large portion of the Old Granite State.

In 1837 Silas Marshall set out for Illinois with his family, and after a journey of seven weeks by the overland route, located in Rock Island, Ill. The parents were accompanied by their seven children and a niece, and arrived in Rock Island about the 1st of March. They were residents of Rock Island County until 1846, when they came to Elizabeth, this county, and the father intended engaging in mining. Later, however, he changed his plans, and kept a hotel at Elizabeth, while at the same time interested in mining operations. His life thereafter was spent much after the manner of other pioneers, he laboring early and late to establish a home, and accumulate a competence. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years, passing away on the 11th of October, 1876. The mother died after the decease of her husband in November, 1880. There were born to them two more children after coming to Illinois, and of the family of nine, the following survive, namely: John, a resident of Montana; Ellen, Mrs. Reynolds; Fannie, the widow of Dr. Parks, of Abilene, Kan., and Frederick, of Storm Lake, Iowa, where George also lives.

Mr. Marshall for many years was a Justice of the Peace, at Elizabeth, where also he engaged for a time in mercantile pursuits. He was a leader in many of the enterprises calculated to build up his adopted township, and a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. In early manhood he belonged to the old Whig party, but upon its abandonment identified himself with the Republicans. His son, George, served as a soldier in the late Civil War, being a member of Company I, 96th Illinois Infantry, and for meritorious conduct, was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. He met the enemy in hard fighting, but escaped unharmed, and returned in safety to his home.

The subject of this biography was reared under the parental roof, and completed her studies in Mt. Morris Seminary. She was married June 21, 1848, to Abram Reynolds, a native of Rome, N. Y., and born July 21, 1827. His parents were Abram and Mary (Billington) Reynolds, the mother being a descendant of the Billingtons who crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower, landing with the pilgrim fathers on Plymouth Rock. They settled in New England, and from them descended the people of this name.

Mr. Reynolds left the place of his birth when a child, removing with his parents to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where they sojourned seven years, then took up their abode in Chautauqua County. In the latter Abram was apprenticed to a blacksmith, and, in 1836, his parents removed to La Porte County, Ind., where he joined them and pursued this trade until accompanying his brother, John B., to this county. After a time the brothers formed a partnership at blacksmithing and mining, continued in business together until the spring of 1848, when our subject and Mr. Reynolds were married. They still continued here until 1850, when Mr. R. joined a party going to California. Arriving at Missouri River, a company was organized, and Mr. Reynolds was elected captain. The trip across the plains was full of hardships and privations, and the company lost all of their stock, Mr. Reynolds having his horse stolen by the Indians. He remained in California only about two years, and not meeting with success, returned to Elizabeth in the fall of 1851.

Mr. Reynolds now resumed his old trade, at which he continued until about 1857, when he entered into partnership with Mr. Henry Chapman for the manufacture of wagons and carriages. In 1864 they sold out and purchased the machine-shops in Hanover, which they operated together until March, 1877. Mr. Reynolds then became sole proprietor, and conducted the business until his death, which occurred Nov. 23, 1885. He left a widow and four daughters, three of whom were married: Mary became the wife of Thomas E. Moore, of Galena; Clara married Mr. David Gray, of Hanover; Augusta, Mrs. Dr. Thomas Killough, lives in Hanover; and Hattie, the youngest, is at home with her mother.

Politically, Mr. Reynolds affiliated with the Democratic party, and although not a member of any church organization, he was a frequent attendant and regular supporter of the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife and two daughters were members. The Rev. Mr. Gilmore of that church, in an article written for the Galena Gazette, speaks highly of his character as a man and a citizen, and his kindness as a husband, and the father of a family. He was a man of few words, well chosen and fitly spoken. A vein of humor ran through his mental nature which often in the midst of apparent sober and serious thought, would surprise and delight those who were with him. None were more ready to help those in need, or to sympathize with them. The large concourse of people who assembled to pay him their last tribute of respect, indicated the regard in which he is held by the citizens of Hanover Township. He was prominent in local affairs. His industry and energy resulted in the accumulation of a good property, and he left his family in comfortable circumstances. Mrs. Reynolds is a lady held in high esteem by the people of her community, and since the death of her husband, has managed the estate with rare good judgment.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889) Pg. 514