FUNERAL SERVICES OF "UNCLE BILLY" REYNOLDS OF MAESER

Wm. G. Reynolds whose sudden death last Thursday morning, April 29, we published in our last issue, was born at Adrian, Michigan, November 18, 1849.

While he had not been well for a week, having complained of a pain in his lungs, he was up and around most of the time, and on the morning of his death had dressed himself, eaten breakfast, and read aloud to his family. His physician had been called several days before, and after looking him over, had said the heart and lungs were in exceleent condition for a man of Mr. Renolds' age.

The night before he died, his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Hardy, of Salt Lake City, had arrived on account of her mother's illness. This visit was a surprise to the family, and her father was overjoyed at her arrival. Next morning the family were enjoying a real old-time visit, when without warning, and almost without a struggle, he passed away.

The funeral service was held in Maeser on Monday. The ward house was filled with friends and neighbors. Many beautiful flowers covered the casket. The speakers were Mrs. Annie K. Bartlett, who related experiences of the winter of 1879-80, when most of the pioneers of this valley lived in a fort; Robert Bodily, who was a near neighbor for forty years; S. D. Colton, who had known the deceased for sixty years; R. H. Sainsbury, who was a close friend and a admirer, and Heber Timothy, who came to the valley with "Uncle Bill" when just a boy. All testified to his sterling qualities and especially his generosity and strict honesty. It can be truely said, he loved his neighbor as himself, and was a friend to humanity.

In the year 1853, with his parents Wm. P. Reynolds and Melissa Bardwell, W. G. Reynolds crossed the plains, coming from Michigan to Utah. The family settled at Provo, but later moved to Heber, where as a young man he had many thrilling experiences in his service, in the Black Hawk Indian War. On January 6, 1872, he married Elizabeth M. Store, and to this union were born ten children.

For a number of years he ran the Hatch flooring mill at Heber. In the summer of 1878 he came and looked over the valley with a view to finding a new home. The following year, in company with his family, his brother-in-law, Martin Oaks and family, Robert Reynolds, Otto Peterson and Heber Timothy, he arrived here December 7, 1879, having been three weeks on the way. They came by ox team and built roads as they came.

He knew that before the crops could be raised the canals must be built, and it would be two seasons before they could expect a harvest, so he bought provisions to last for many months. The snow came very deep and the weather was intensely cold. The handful of settlers looked starvation in the face. Sickness and death visited many homes. W. G. Reynolds could never have plenty while a neighbor was in need. His provisions did not last long. Many people ground their wheat on coffee mills. This process was too slow, so being a practical miller, he went into the hills and got out two large stones, which he dressed into burs. A sweep was attached and horses attached furnished the power to run the burs. There was little or no feed for horses and the wheat was ground by man power. These old burs have been preserved as an interesting relic of the "hard winter."

In the spring the deceased went to Heber to see about establishing a mill here, and to bring provisions; but he encountered high water and lost his team and outfit, and barely escaped with his life.

In the fall of 1880 he and his father built the first flouring mill in the valley, where he has served the people for most of forty years.

In connection with Robert Bodily and Phillip Stringham, he was instrumental in establishing a school district in the west end of the valley.

During the last seven years he developed considerable talent along poetic lines, and wrote many verses and poems, one of which was read at his funeral. His poems were all type-written and preserved in a loose leaf book, and only a few minutes before his death his wife remarked, "Your father's book is full."

He is survived by five sisters, his wife and the following children: Mrs. Agnes LaCone and Mrs. Jean Winn of California; Mrs. Essie Collett of Lone Tree. Wyoming; Mrs. Rose M. Hardy of Salt Lake City; Mrs. Della Anderson, George, Raymond and Inez, all of Vernal. Also eighteen grandchildren.

The remains were laid to rest in the Maeser Cemetery.

--Vernal Express, May 7, 1920, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
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SUDDEN DEATH OF "UNCLE BILLY" REYNOLDS IN MAESER

"Uncle Billy" Reynolds was stricken with paralysis at his home in Maeser Thursday morning at 11 o'clock, and died almost instantly. Funeral services will be held Thursday morning, in the Maeser Meeting House Sunday, if absent relatives can be reached.

"Uncle Billy" was one of the pioneers of Ashley Valley, having settled here in 1879. He was known as the "Bad Lands Poet," and wrote much commendable verse.

An extended write-up of his life and funeral will be published next week.

-Vernal Express, April 20, 1920, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
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Parents
Father: William Pitt REYNOLDS
Mother: Melissa BARDWELL


Marriage(s)
Spouse: Elizabeth Maria STORR
Marriage: 6 Jan 1872
Heber City, Wasatch, Ut
son of William Pitt & Melissa (Bardwell) Reynolds, married to Elizabeth Storr.