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Although what became Reynolds County, like much of southern Missouri, was at one point in the territory of various Indian tribes, the latest being the [[Osage]], its known history really began in 1812, when Henry Fry, a native of [[Kentucky]], arrived in the area and settled on the middle fork of the Black River: evidently the first American pioneer to make the region his home. Others followed in the next few years, mostly settling along the Black River and its numerous tributaries.<ref>Robert Sidney Douglass, ''History of Southeast Missouri'' (1912), p. 179-80.</ref>  

Although what became Reynolds County, like much of southern Missouri, was at one point in the territory of various Indian tribes, the latest being the [[Osage]], its known history really began in 1812, when Henry Fry, a native of [[Kentucky]], arrived in the area and settled on the middle fork of the Black River: evidently the first American pioneer to make the region his home. Others followed in the next few years, mostly settling along the Black River and its numerous tributaries.<ref>Robert Sidney Douglass, ''History of Southeast Missouri'' (1912), p. 179-80.</ref>  

The territory during this first period was attached to [[Wayne County, Missouri|Wayne County]], then much larger than today; in 1830 it was transferred to Washington County, then to the newly-formed Shannon County. By the 1840s the local population had risen enough to be given its own jurisdiction, and in 1845 the Missouri legislature organized it as Reynolds County, naming it in honor of former governor Thomas Reynolds, who had died in office the year before. A small part of its territory would be detached in 1857 in favor of [[Iron County, Missouri|Iron County]] to the northeast; after this point, the county assumed roughly its current boundaries.

The territory during this first period was attached to [[Wayne County, Missouri|Wayne County]], then much larger than today; in 1830 it was transferred to Washington County, then to the newly-formed [[Shannon County, Missouri|Shannon County]]. By the 1840s the local population had risen enough to be given its own jurisdiction, and in 1845 the Missouri legislature organized it as Reynolds County, naming it in honor of former governor Thomas Reynolds, who had died in office the year before. A small part of its territory would be detached in 1857 in favor of [[Iron County, Missouri|Iron County]] to the northeast; after this point, the county assumed roughly its current boundaries.

The county seat was originally located in the town of Lesterville, in the central part of the county; during the upheavals of the [[Civil War]], however, the courthouse was burned by [[Confederate]] soldiers, and a new one was built in Centerville a few miles to the west.<ref>https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/C2366/reynolds-county</ref> The new structure in turn burned in 1871 and had to be rebuilt. On account of these two fires, many documents relating to the county's early history are lost.  

The county seat was originally located in the town of Lesterville, in the central part of the county; during the upheavals of the [[Civil War]], however, the courthouse was burned by [[Confederate]] soldiers, and a new one was built in Centerville a few miles to the west.<ref>https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/C2366/reynolds-county</ref> The new structure in turn burned in 1871 and had to be rebuilt. On account of these two fires, many documents relating to the county's early history are lost.