From the 1890 Buchanan and Delaware Counties History:
STEPHEN R. REYNOLDS was born in Ferrisburg, Addison county, Vt., August 4, 1811. His father, Stephen Reynolds, was a native of Vermont, was a farmer by occupation and a volunteer in the War of 1812. He was honest and industrious and had the confidence and good will of all who knew him. He died in Wyoming county, N. Y. His father, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts and followed agricultural pursuits throughout life. The great-grandfather Reynolds, was a native of Ireland, and a weaver by trade. He immigrated to America in colonial times, settling in Vermont.

Stephen Reynold's mother bore the maiden name of Mary Gage. She was of English extraction, but a native of Massachusetts. She died in Ferrisburg, Vt., in 1817, aged thirty. Stephen and Mary (Gage) Reynolds were the parents of five children, three girls and two boys. After the mother's death, the younger children were sent to live with friends and relatives. Stephen, our subject, was placed with Mr. N. W. Baldwin, who moved to Cobleskill, N. Y., and thence to Chenango county, N. Y. His guardian dying when he was twelve years of age, he went to live with a son of his former friend and benefactor, and remained with him three years. At the end of that time he made his home with his father, living with him until he reached his majority.

He then came West, resided in various places and was variously engaged for a number of years. In 1847 he came to Iowa and settled in Richland township, Delaware county. Here he took up land, for the first year or two, devoted himself to improving his claim, but afterwards engaged in mercantile pursuits.

Mr. Reynolds married January 1, 1840, taking for a life companion Miss Nancy W. Worley, who was born in Chittenden county, Vt., September 12, 1817. They had twelve children.

In politics Mr. Reynolds was a Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He assisted in organizing Coffin's Grove township, worked the first road there and was road supervisor for a number of years. He was postmaster of that township for ten years and also justice of the peace. Some time in the early 1880s, he lost his eye sight and been blind for 8-1/2 years at the time the 1890 history was written.