of Menard and Mason Counties
By T.G. Onstott
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CHAPTER XLII Page 390 Must have come to Mason county in the early forties as he was living east of Havana when we first came to the country. He was a man of decided convictions. In religion a Methodist, not of patent-right kind but one of the John Wesley kind. In politics he was a democrat of the Thomas Jefferson kind. Like most of the early settlers, he did not settle on the prairies, though thousands of acres lay vacant at $1.25 an acre ready for the plow. He chose rather to clear a farm out in the brush east of where Uncle Alex Hopping lives. He had a large family of three boys and six girls, and he lived on this farm till his family grew to womanhood and manhood. All respected for their moral worth, they were quiet in their demeanor and attended to their own business. Mr. McReynolds' house for many years was headquarters for Methodism and many a circuit rider found here a home, after a round of three weeks on his circuit. Uncle Robert was a great friend of campmeetings in his early days and always camped on the grounds. Campmeetings were held because churches were scarce and schoolhouses would not hold the people. They would commence on Tuesday and hold over till the next Tuesday. The tents would be built in a circular form around the auditorium where people would be seated. Peter Acres, Peter Cartright, William Rutledge and Rev. Shunck we recollect as preachers in those days. Uncle Robert enjoyed a campmeeting and always took part in the exercises. We have heard an anecdote that occurred at one of these meetings that will hurt no one connect with it, which we beg leave to relate: It was the custom for the men to sit on one side and the ladies on the other side of the grounds and a committee was appointed to see that this was carried out. The meeting had got to be quite warm and interesting and some of the men had gotten on the women's side. Uncle Robert was near the altar and motioned to Aaron-who was one of the transgressors, to come away while Aaron mistook his signals for him to come to the altar. "Not tonight Mr. McReynolds." Another signal was given and still Aaron mistook it for an invitation to come. Mr. McReynolds now getting impatient went to him and said "I tell you, you must come." "Not tonight Mr. McReynolds." About this time Aaron seeing that he must do something left the crowd and did not go to the altar. Mr. McReynolds stood in high esteem in the democratic party and was elected to nearly all the offices in their gift. Was county assessor, judge, justice of the peace and filled well all these offices. He moved to Havana in the fifties and was a highly respected citizen. His word was as good as his bond. No stain of character ever rested on him. He was an ideal Christian citizen, was ever ready to bear any burden that would advance the cause of christianity or better the condition of his fellow man. Would that there were more Robert McReynolds.
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