Nathaniel G. Reynolds was born in Hancock, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in 1794, and came to Prophetstown in 1835. From a biography of his life, written several years before his death, we gather the following facts: In 1796, his parents moved to St, Armands, Lower Canada, where they remained until 1809, when they returned to Massachusetts. Soon afterwards Mr. Reynolds was indentured to Deacon Levi Clarke, of Lanesborough, Massachusetts, to learn the business of tanning, and making shoes. In 1812 he was drafted in the State Militia, but as Gov. Strong refused to place the Militia under United States officers, he enlisted in 1813 as Sergeant in the 40th Regiment, and served during the war, being honorably discharged at Boston, in 1815. In 1816, he went to Genesee county, New York, and took a sawmill on shares, where he sawed lumber for a shop and tan vats, and commenced work at his trade. He also superintended the opening of the road from Warsaw to Buffalo, through a dense wilderness. In 1820 he moved to Black Rock, near Buffalo, and built the second tannery in the latter place, conducting it for five years, and then disposed of it to good advantage and went to Aurora, Erie county, New York. He remained at Aurora, working at his trade, erecting buildings, and selling goods, until October, 1835, when he started for the then far West.
The balance of the biography we give in his own language, as it relates more particularly to his life while a resident of Whiteside county, and to incidents similar to those experienced by many of the old settlers. He says, "I came with my family, consisting of my wife and five children, from Buffalo to Detroit by water, and from thence to Chicago by team over roads as bad as one could possibly want to see. From Chicago to Rock river my road was an Indian trail, and for the last forty-four miles before reaching Prophetstown, I crossed the prairie without a road, and not a house in sight, my only guide being the lone tree. The weather was inclement, and crossing the sloughs very difficult. In most cases we had to swim the streams, but we finally reached a cabin near my destination, where we were made happy with refreshments, and a fire, and had a good night's rest on the soft side of a hewn plank.
Three days afterwards I returned for the wagons which I was compelled to leave at a slough; camped out during the night, and returned the next day all right. This was in November, and the cold had increased, with a fair prospect of winter setting in. Here I was with five horses, one yoke of oxen, and seven dollars in cash, but no hay, grain, or provisions, except what we had in the wagons, nearer than seventy miles, and no roads or bridges on the way. Knoxville was the Egypt for us, it being the nearest point where provisions could be obtained, and for that land of corn I started with my teams, one of my neighbour acting as pilot. We swam Green river, Edwards river, Big and Little Page creeks, and arrived safe, but on account of high water could not return with any load until the water fell. We were weather bound for thirteen days. In that time I exchanged one span of horses for such things as I wanted. In the mean time ten men with teams, on the same errand as ourselves, joined us, their company being very acceptable. We loaded up and started, making quite a respectable caravan.
It was eighteen miles to the first house or cabin. We crossed the two creeks without difficulty, although the weather was excessively cold. Edwards river had so fallen in consequence of the freeze that we thought we could ford it, but the banks were so steep and frozen that one pair of horses or oxen could not hold our loads down nor draw them up on the other side, so we coupled six yoke of oxen together and made fast to the hind axle with sufficient length of chain, and thus eased the load down into the stream. Then we took the cattle across, and drew the loads up the other bank.
In that way we succeeded in getting all our loads across safely, except mine. In raising the bank with it, and when about half way up, the cattle broke the chain, and my wagon run back and upset the load into the river. We soon righted the wagon, and I jumped into the river and collected my load, which was principally in barrels. I offered a good price for help, but the parties refused, and advised me to let the load go down stream, as I would get my death by such exposure, but I could not spare the articles. I floated them to the shore, put a chain around them, and run a pole through, when those on the bank, with my help in the rear, pulled them up, and loaded them again, when we went on.
It was three and a half hours from the time I went into the water before I reached a fire and what is somewhat remarkable, I did not freeze in any part, while every one on the bank were frozen, some of them badly. We succeeded, however, in getting along after that, but had often to put all the teams forward of one wagon. When we came to Green river we had to unload, and take our stuff over in a trough, or canoe; swim our teams, and fasten a rope to our wagons, and pull them over as a seine is hauled. Then we had good going on the prairie, as the sloughs were all frozen solid. We arrived home well and hearty, having been absent twenty-one days in going seventy-five miles and back. I found thirteen out of nineteen in our cabin down with the measles, with no doctor within thirty miles, but all lived and got smart soon.
Troubles did not come singly, for in a day or two I broke my wagon tire, and had to load it in another wagon and take it to Naperville, a distance of one hundred miles, to be mended, and get my horses shod, it being the nearest shop I could get to without swimming. It happened well enough, as I got a good price for bringing a load back from Chicago. There was a heavy emigration that winter, and in the spring of 1836 provision were scarce; and commanded a high price, flour from $16.50 to $20, per barrel; pork 18 3/4 cents per lb. or $32 per barrel. In 1837, I was chosen President of the Rock River Land Claim Association, and the Society no doubt prevented a number of law suits, and claim fights.
In the fall I was elected Justice of the Peace. At the organization of the County of Whiteside, in 1839, I was elected one of the County Commissioners, and in 1840 was appointed Deputy Marshal, and took the census of the county, the Marshal stating that my returns were the most correct of any Deputy in the district. In 1842 I was elected Justice of the Peace, and in 1847 appointed Colonel of the 103d Regiment Illinois Militia, and commissioned by Gov. French. In 1849, was elected Judge of the County Court of Whiteside, and Justice of the Peace in Prophetstown for four years, and in 1853 I was again elected Judge of the County Court for the term of four years. So much for the offices.
I am now, and have been for several years, a thorough going Temperance man. I have said in the fore part of this brief sketch, that I moved to Rock river in November, 1835. I omitted to mention that I came out here in June, and made a claim. There were only three cabins then within a distance of a hundred miles I drew up a petition for a postoffice, to be called Prophetstown Postoffice, and got four residents and three travelers to sign it. I then went back for my family with as much speed as possible, fearing some one would come and "jump" my claim, as it was called. I have also said that provisions were high, but as soon as I began to have a surplus everything was on the decline. Still I kept on breaking and improving for five years, until I had one hundred and thirty acres under cultivation, and considerable stock. Since I have been in Illinois I have been engaged in agriculture and in the improvement of horses, cattle, and hogs, which will long be remembered by the inhabitants of Whiteside county, some of whom know that I came here poor. I have had rather an up hill road to travel, yet I have plenty of this world's goods to make me and mine comfortable to the end of life.
Mr. Reynolds moved to Sterling about the year 1860, and died there January 21, 1865. He was married July 13, 1819, to Miss Phebe B. Brace. The children all live in Prophetstown, and are: P. Bates, who married Miss Polly Smith, and after her death married Miss Elizabeth May; Orpha, wife of Edward S. Gage; Amanda, wife of Edson Smith; Linus, who married Miss Sarah Conner; Clark, who married Miss Amanda Conner. The three brothers are engaged in the occupation of farming, are enterprising, thorough men, and stand high in the community. P. Bates has filled various town offices has been township Treasurer for a number of years, for the last two years Supervisor of Prophetstown, and is Chairman of the present Board of Supervisors of Whiteside county, a position which he ably fills.
Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 377-378-379
