Callaway Gazette, March 3, 1910,
Fulton, Callaway, Missouri

James Reynolds Dead

Well known citizen of near Guthrei passes away-made coffin and vault years ago.

James Reynolds who was born in Callaway County in 1834, died at his home near Guthrie, Saturday evening, after an illness of several months, and was buried at the Dry Fork Church Monday afternoon, Rev. C.A. Mitchell preaching the funeral and the body being laid to rest with Masonic ceremonies.

He leaves a wife and six children to mourn their loss.

He had long been one of the prminent citizens of his section of the county a man of strong convictions and of influence. He was eccentric in many ways and years ago provided a burial place for himself by cutting out a vault in the rock on a hillside on his farm. He also made for himself a coffin from walnut lumber sawed from a tree cut on his land. However a more modern casket and a steel vault contain the remains.


Mexico Intelligencer, February 28, 1910,
Mexico, Audrain Co., Missouri

Handmade Coffin too Small-
Callaway County Man's Preparations defeated by his Flesh

After working for years to complete a handsome walnut casket and erecting a large vault from limestone taken from cliffs on his farm, James Reynolds of Guthrie, a small town near here was not buried as he had arranged. He was one of the representative farmers in Callaway County, and in constructin his casket allowed no one to assist him, even cutting the trees from which the casket was made.

He died Sunday night, but as he had become very fleshy it was impossible to bury him in the casket because it was too small.