Reynolds County History & War Memorial

Reynolds County History and War Memorial. . , Reynolds County owes its beginning to two fur trappers, Henry Fry and Andrew Henry. Henry Fry, the first white inhabitant of the county, settled here in 1812, Andrew Henry came in 1816, other pioneers soon followed and slowly the narrow valleys along the numerous small streams became dotted with picturesque log cabins. Reynolds County, named for Thomas Reynolds, Missouri’s 7th Governor, was organized Feb 28, 1845 by the authority of the 13th General Assembly. William C. Love, Landon Copeland and James Crownover were appointed by Governor Edwards to serve as the governing body, then known as the Justices of the County Court. He also chose Marvin Munger as Sheriff and John Buford as Surveyor. These three justices chose Colin C. Campbell as Circuit and County Clerk. Pate Buford, a brother to John, had been elected in 1844 as Shannon County’s State Representative and through his diligence Reynolds became one of 19 counties organized in 1845. Pate Buford was elected in 1846 as the county’s first representative. The first County Court selected 14 of the best qualified men in the various communities to the important position of Justice of the Peace. , Aryes Hudspeth, John Miller and Moses Carty were selected in the Legislative Act of 1845 to locate and lay out a permanent county seat. After due consideration, Centerville was chosen. As specified by the General Assembly, Lesterville and the home of Joseph McNail, was used as the first meeting place for the Circuit Court and County Court until a permanent seat of justice was established. James George of Madison County was given the contract to build the court house, which he completed in 1849. This brick structure survived until 1863 when Tim Reeves of the 15th Mo. Cavalry surprised Capt. Bartlett’s Co. C of the 3rd Mo. State Militia, took them captive, burned the court house with all its records. A new court house was built after the Civil War which met with a similar fate in 1871. The structure you see today was built by John Johnston and James B. Barnes in 1872 at a cost of $8,000. Reynolds County’s citizens have met and overcome many adversities in the past. They stand ready to face the challenges of the future. , , History by James F. Bell. , 1984 Officials , Governer • Christopher Bond , Senator • Danny Staples , Rep • Eugene Oakley , Pres Judge • Arthur Cook , 1st Dist Judge • Donald Barnes , 2nd Dist Judge • Otis Volner , County Clerk • Jim Hill , Circuit Clerk • Charlene Hill , Pros Att • James Crenshaw , Assessor • Phillip I. Moss , Collector • Willard Chilton , Treasurer • Gloria Dement , Sheriff • Oliver Laxton , Coroner • Charles Pewitt , Public Adm • Mable Stout, Design, layout and mfg contributed by Pewitt Monument Co, Korean War Casualties , Hedgcoth, James R. , Kay, Harold L., Vietnam War Casualties , Rayfield, Gregory R. , Larry D. Buffington