I began my search with the photograph of an elderly woman looking out through a doorway …
On the reverse is written:
Mrs. A. B. Reynolds
Margaret Anne Holden
Copy of picture found in Maxine Clark Schooley’s mother’s (Nellie Elmore Clark) pictures.
Probably received via Verda Spicer Diel.
“Red Rock House”
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Margaret Anne Holden descended from an immigrant English family of farmers and millers. Born in Suffolk county, England in 1833, she was the daughter of James Buxton Holden, a miller, and his wife Elizabeth S. (Whiting) Holden.
Margaret's parents, both natives of Suffolk county, England, immigrated to America in 1836. They landed in New York City and then proceeded up the Hudson River, eventually settling in Rochester, New York where for many years James Holden was in charge of a mill. Later the family would move to Hamilton, Canada where James and Elizabeth Holden spent the remainder of their lives.
Their daughter, Margaret was educated in private school in Canada. On Dec. 15, 1853, at age 20, she married Augustus Bellamy Reynolds, 26. The Rev. Bold C. Hill officiated.
Margaret's husband, Augustus Bellamy Reynolds was born near Glens Falls, New York on Oct. 27, 1827. His father, James Green Reynolds, was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving under General Wool. His mother, the former Miss Catherine Anderson was born in Scotland and immigrated to America with her parents.
A few years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Reynolds and their 2 small children, Holden and Lizzie started for the west, making the trip by way of the Great Lakes. The following year they resided in Clinton, Iowa where Augustus Reynolds was engaged in the grain business until 1867 when he moved to Clay county, IL. where he continued in the grain business until 1875.
Margaret and Augustus Reynolds had 9 children:
- Holden A. born July 19, 1855 in Canada - a cowboy on the Jones, Plummer and New Western Trail; he homesteaded a farm in Oklahoma; he died Nov. 19, 1934 in Kingfisher, OK
- Elizabeth Sarah “Lizzie” born ca. 1857 in Canada - Married Wm. Jarvis in Hamilton, Canada, Feb. 4, 1880; died Wentworth, Ontario, Canada Sept. 12, 1921
- Harry A. born ca. 1858 in Iowa - died in New York circa 1877 at age 19
- Edith born 1861 in Iowa - died age 10 (1871) Clay county, IL
- Jesse born ca. 1864 in Iowa - died 1878 in Kansas of a snake bite
- Frederick “Fred” W. born ca. 1866 in Iowa - homesteaded a farm near Syracuse, Kansas
- George Hammond born July, 1868 in Illinois - also a cowboy on the Jones, Plummer and New Western Trail; he farmed and raised cattle near Hazelton, Kansas
- Clarence S. born ca. 1872 in Illinois - died of typhoid fever in Kansas in 1888 (age 16) and buried in Old Kiowa Cemetery.
- Augusta “Gussie” born 1875 in New York - she taught school in Barber county, Kansas until her marriage to Hugh Wible.
The family arrived in Kansas in September, 1877. Augustus selected a homestead on Medicine River and soon after began work on their first dwelling, a large sod house which he appropriately called “Sod Castle.” The family would live in their Sod Castle for the next 6 years.
In 1878 the Reynolds lost another son Jesse, who died after being bitten by a snake. Young Jesse was buried at sundown in an unmarked prairie grave.
In 1884 the family moved to Cedar Hills Farm. Red sandstone was hauled by sled and oxen to build a one room home. The house was eventually enlarged with sleeping rooms upstairs. A deep well was hand dug near the house.
In 1888, son Clarence (16) died of typhoid fever caused by drinking impure water from the river. Augustus blamed the pollution on the influx of people and cattle into the area.
Over time the ranch of Augustus Reynolds grew to 600 acres and included a large and attractive modern residence, good barns, necessary outbuildings, well tilled fields and excellent pastures; he was successful in both the raising of cattle and farming.
Augustus Reynolds died at home in 1903. Margaret, as was the custom, lived with her children until her death in 1925 in rural Hazelton, Kansas.
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| Son, Geo. Hammond Reynolds and wife Ida at the Cedar Hill Farm Home 1905 - 1910 |
Sources:
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