Thomas Reynolds (1796 - 1844)

Born 12 Mar 1796 in Bracken County, Kentucky

Husband of Elizabeth Ann (Young) Mitchell — married 2 Sep 1823 (to 9 Feb 1844) in Fayette County, Kentucky, USA

Descendants

Died 9 Feb 1844 at age 47 in Jefferson City, Cole, Missouri, United States

Preceded by 6th Governor Lilburn Boggs

Thomas Reynolds 7th Governor of Missouri 1840—1844

Succeeded by 8th Governor Meredith Miles Marmaduke

Biography

Thomas Reynolds is Notable.

Thomas Reynolds was born on March 12, 1796 in Bracken County, Kentucky to Nathaniel Reynolds and Catherine Vernon.^[1]

On September 2, 1823, Thomas married Eliza Young in Fayette County, Kentucky.^[2]

Thomas served as the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court from 1822 to 1825.^[1]

Thomas was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1826. He failed to win reelection.^[1]

In 1829, Thomas and Eliza moved to Fayette, Missouri.^[1]

In 1840, Thomas was elected Governor of Missouri.^[1]

Thomas died on February 9, 1844 in Jefferson City, Missouri. He committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. He left a message to G. Minor which read “I have labored and discharged my duties faithfully to the public, but this has not protected me from the slanders and abuse which has rendered my life a burden to me…I pray to God to forgive them and teach them more charity.”^[3][4]

Although his suicide note clarified his reason for taking his own life, Wilford Woodruff, a follower of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, said he took his life after Smith asked God to deliver him "from the power of that man", implying God moved Reynolds to commit suicide in answer to Smith's prayer." He strengthened the implication by giving another example.<^[5]

He is buried in the Woodland Old City Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri.^[6]

Reynolds County, Missouri is named in his honor.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Missouri State Archives Finding Aid 3.7, Thomas Reynolds, 1840-1844; Office of Governor, Record Group 3.7; Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.; https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Archives/rg003-07.pdf
2. ↑ Kentucky, Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850; https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2089&h=20745
3. ↑ Death of Governor Reynolds, The Political Beacon, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, 22 Feb 1844, Thu • Page 2; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114474941/death-of-governor-thomas-reynolds/
4. ↑ Missouri Department of Mental Health, Governor’s Suicide Calls Attention to Mental Illness, by Hank Guhleman, M.D.; https://dmh.mo.gov/about/history-mental-illness
5. ↑ Lundwall, Nels Benjamin, 1884-, The Fate of the persecutors of the prophet Joseph Smith..., 1952, Salt Lake City : Bookcraft. Thomas Reynolds Pgs 37-43, *308-309.
6. ↑ Find a Grave; https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11348

• Thomas Reynolds on Wikipedia