Benjamin F. Reynolds, a successful farmer and stock grower in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, was born on December 19, 1853, in Van Buren County, Michigan. His parents, Benjamin F. and Drusilla Reynolds, were Ohio natives and early settlers in Michigan. Benjamin moved to Minnesota at seventeen, worked in Wisconsin’s pine forests, and later relocated to South Dakota in 1876. He claimed a homestead near Wheeler, expanding his holdings to 500 acres. In 1888, he established a profitable ferry across the Missouri River, which he operated until 1902. Married to Martha Ecker Hill, Reynolds was a dedicated Republican and supported the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Benjamin F. Reynolds, one of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock growers of Charles Mix County, is a native of the state of Michigan, having been born on a farm in Van Buren County, on the 19th of December, 1853, a son of Benjamin F. and Drusilla (Whittaker) Reynolds, natives of the state of Ohio. Both are now deceased, the father having been one of the pioneers of Van Buren County, Michigan, where he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. This worthy couple became the parents of eight children, all of whom are living except one, the names being here entered in the order of birth: George E., Ensign M., Napoleon (deceased), Newman, John, Benjamin F., Lily, and Fidelia. The subject secured his educational training in the common schools of his native state and by personal application after becoming dependent upon his own resources, since he missed no opportunity of attending school, even for brief intervals, and also continued his studies at night, thus effectually rounding out a good practical education.
At the age of seventeen years, he left Michigan and went to Minnesota, where he was for a time employed on a farm, while later he secured work in the pine forests of Wisconsin, aiding in getting out timber for the mills, while he also worked on the Mississippi River in Minnesota. During the winter months, he attended school, while he also attended night school in Pierce County, Wisconsin. In the autumn of 1879, Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha (Ecker) Hill, of Minnesota, and of this union have been born no children. In 1876, Mr. Reynolds came to what is now South Dakota and located in Charles Mix County, this section at the time being given over entirely to grazing purposes, none of the land being under cultivation. Here he secured employment in herding cattle and otherwise caring for livestock, while he brought down many deer and antelope with his trusty rifle, game of all kinds being then found in abundance. He continued to be thus employed for a period of five years.
In 1879, he entered a claim to a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres near Wheeler, the present county seat of Charles Mix County, and to his landed estate, he has since added until he is now the owner of five hundred acres, three hundred and forty acres of which he purchased at an average price of eight dollars an acre, while the same land will easily command thirty dollars an acre if placed on the market at the present time.
In 1888, Mr. Reynolds established a ferry across the Missouri River at what was known as Wheeler Crossing. He began operations with an old flat boat, which he constructed by hand, while later he built a new boat, which he operated by tread power, while finally the demands placed upon the ferry led him to install a gasoline engine for its operation. He conducted the ferry for fourteen years, the venture proving a profitable one in a financial way. He sold his interest in the ferry in 1902 to S. M. Lindley, who in turn sold to H. M. Carroll, who still continues its operation. Mr. Reynolds not only has much of his land under cultivation but also raises cattle and swine on an extensive scale. He has made excellent improvements on his place, which has good, substantial buildings, while thrift and prosperity are everywhere in evidence, indicating the energy and enterprise which he has brought to bear in his operations.
In politics, he gives a staunch allegiance to the Republican Party, fraternally is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Though not affiliated with any religious society, the subject’s strongest sympathies are with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as that is the faith in which he was reared.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.