Elisha B. Reynolds, born October 10, 1836, served three terms in the Indiana House of Representatives. He was an adamant supporter of prohibition and was much sought after as a speaker. In fact, when the citizens of Kanas approved its prohibition amendment in 1880, Kansas Governor John St. John reportedly gave much of the credit to Elisha. Kansas remained a “dry” state until 1948.

In 1897 he was appointed “Special Agent” of the Indian Affairs Office for which he received a salary of $2,000 a year. Tasked with settling disputes in Indian Territories, he determined, for example, that the Indians “fired the first shot” in one of the earliest cases he settled in Routt County, Colorado.

The Evening Star newspaper of Franklin, Indiana covered his funeral when he died in 1915 at the age of 78. Reverend Sylvester Billheimer delivered the sermon and the eulogy which consisted of sixteen typewritten pages Elisha had prepared himself.

Somewhere around page ten I’m guessing more than a few folks thought Elisha might have been the only fortunate person to have attended the funeral that day.

Kenfolk: Utlauts
Relation: 3rd cousin, 4x removed
Common ancestors: John and Ann (Jones) Chamness, my 7th great grandparents

References:
Henson, Z. (ed.) (1922). History and Genealogy of the American Descendants of John and Ann Chamness of London, England. n. p.
Personal and General. (31 Jul 1897). The Cincinnati Enquirer, p. 1.
Special Agent Reynolds Says the Recent Fight in Colorado Was Due to Them. (1915, February 27). The Sun New York, New York, p. 1.
John Pierce St. John Papers, 1859-1917 (https://www.kshs.org/p/john-pierce-st-john-papers-1859-1917/14120#bio)
Wrote His Own Funeral Sermon. (1915, February 27). The Evening Star, p. 1.