Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-12
A FITTING TRIBUTE
The Life of the Late Rev. ii, q. Rfy-
nolds Reviewed by Kansas

nolds Reviewed by a Kansas
Paper.
The Blue Ropids (Xan) Times prints
the following extended biography of the
late Rev. II. G. Reynolds which will be
read with interest by many in this city:
Rev. Harmon G. Reyno DIS, died at the
residence of his son-in-law, Stephen G.
Moore, in Irving, at 1 o'clock. New
Years morning, aged 81 years and 10
days.
Harmon Gausevoort Reynolds was born
| near Saratoga, n. Y, Dec 21, 1910. At
| the age of three years he removed with
! his parents to farm in Vermont, near
the town of Woodstock; here he passed
| lis youth. On his 21st birthday he left
| the farm and went to Montpelier, where
he attended school one year, he then COM
| menCed the study of law. A short time
| previous to the Black Hawk war. he
| packed all his worldly possessions in
| bag, and started to walk 10 the state of
| Illinois He reached Rock Island in
| time to TAKE part in the war between the
| white settlers and Indians of th4t section
The Indian troubles over, be started the
first news paper published in Rock Isl
and, and at the same time engaged in the
practice of law. Because of his Jealous
defense of Black Hawk and other
friendly Indians, the settlers Of northern
illinois gave him title he Was alwa'
proud to bear" Black Hawk" IN 1889
he married Miss Louisa Thompson, an,
moved his little family to Knoxville. III.
in 1852, where he built up au extensive
Jaw practice. He became Judge OF Knox
county il 1868, holding the position as
loRg as he remained in the county. H
was clGrS of the constitutional corven-
ton OF Illinois in 1S47 or AS, serving in
the same capacity until 1854, and be-
came identified il Iha state with Lincoln
Judge David Davis, Judge Logan, 0 lies
by, Palmer, Gov. Edwards Gov. Yates
and MANY others. AT the earnest solici-
auon Of Masonic friends, he accepted
the office of grand secretary of TIE grand
10 ige of Illinois. TIE work grew so
rapidly that he gave up his Law ur.clice
and moved to Springfield in 1856, and
gave his whole time TO The business of the
office; he served as grand secretary Is
consecutive Years, and Was then made
grand master of the same bod. The
large membership and noble influence for
good, which Masonry obtains in Illinois,
is largely Que to his untiring aud efficient
work, and instructive lectures through
out the state. Sometime in 1861, he
started the Masonic Trowel, which 5000
becsme the leading Masonic publication
in the United States. In 1871 his print
log Office, choice library, etc, was de-
stroytd by fire. His term of Office hay
ing expired, he concluded TO try anu
mend his broken fortune in Kansas The
citizens of Marshall county know the his
tory Of his sojourn among them better
than the writer can tell it. SIffiac
1t TO say, that he was the high
est rank Mason in northeastern Kansas,
having taken the 33d and highest degree
Although many bonors had fallen upor
him in manhocd's prime. and wealth
| and fame had been his for wears.
no honor was so highly esteemed as tho
conferred upon by the Baptist church in
Blue Rapids. Nor did wealth and tame
over bring him The quiet content ard
bright entIci pations that MS humble min
istry in the household of faith did Jus
as the old year was DYING he held quiet
talk with his son who was watching with
him, then fell asleep. and in the twinkle
of an eye be was changed and weary old
age was AT rest. So mote it he
We wish to add 10 the above a word of
testimony from what we have known of
The deceased for long time. and which
We know can be Cheerfullv verified bv a
large circle of friends. He was one of
those men truly To be called good, ia IA
broad sense OF that word. His consist
ent life and timely words of counsel were
source of great strength, not only TO
the church of his choice in this city, but
to the entire christian community
Everyone had great respect for jGdge
Reynolds.