Walla Walla Evening Bulletin, June 11, 1911
Mrs. Lettice Jane Reynolds, age 81, one of the oldest women pioneers in the Walla Walla valley, died at 10:30 o'clock last night at her home, 24 Clinton street, after an illness of several weeks. Mrs. Reynolds' condition, when she was first taken ill, was not supposed to be serious, but she became steadily worse until about a week ago, when hope was givenup. She remained about the same all last week until yesterday morning, when she had a sinking spell, at which time it was thought she would die, but she rallied. However, last night she was taken with another sinking spell, during which she died. She suffered no pain during her sickness, which developed into pneumonia at the last.
Mrs. Reynolds has seen the growth of Walla Walla from the time it was a small trading post and fort, and her experiences before coming to Walla Walla were those of every pioneer woman who came to the great Northwest in those days, when it was little more than a wilderness.
Mrs. Reynolds has contributed largely to the upbuilding of the different institutions of the city, chief among which are Whitman College and the Young Men's Christian Association. It was a donation of $20,000 from Mrs. Reynolds that made a Y.M.C.A. possible in Walla Walla, and since the completion of the association building she has been one of the chief contributors toward the upkeep of the current expenses. At the recent rally held when the Y.M.C.A. had completed raising the $45,000 debt, the speech that Mrs. Reynolds made and the expression of joy that she gave at knowing the association was free from debt will long be remembered by all who heard her.
When the new girls' dormitory at Whitman College was built it was named Reynolds hall, in honor of Mrs. Reynolds. About one year and a half ago Mrs. Reynolds paid off a $6000 debt that still stood over the hall.
Although Mrs. Reynolds moved to her home on Clinton street in 1900, it was always been her wish to return to her first residence in the Walla Walla valley on the original Clark donation claim, and with this object in view she had until a few weeks before her death been personally supervising the building of a large residence on the old place, in sight of the original log house in which she first made her home. She intended to move into this house in July. The new residence was to have been fitted with a dining room to seat forty, as it was one of the keenest pleasures of Mrs. Reynolds' life to have all her children and grandchildren gathered around her at once.
Mrs. Reynolds, daughter of Elija and Lucinda Crisp Millican, was born October 3, 1830, in Cane Hill, Arkansas. She was the oldest of a family of nine children and with her parents joined "The Whitman Imigration," and crossed the plains into Oregon in 1843. The Millicans settled the following year near the town of Lafayette, Yamhille County, Or., where the family all grew to manhood and womanhood. Lettice Jace married in 1845 Ransom Clark, a member of Lieutenant Freemont's party into Oregon the same year as the emigration. They lived a number of years near Lafayette, where their oldest son, Charles was born, afterward moving to Portland, when that town began to take ascendency over Oregon City.
Following a gold excitement into the Colville country in 1855 and that proving a failure, Ransom Clark returning by the way of Walla Walla, setlled on what is now known as the Ransom Clark donation claim. Being obliged to leave on account of the closing of the country to settlers, his land filings and proof were made. He again started work on his claim in the fall and winter of 1858. In April, 1859, leaving his son Charles here on the claim, he returned to Portland to make arrangements for the removal of the family to the upper country, but taking ill, he died. Mrs. Clark immediately made the journey to Walla Walla in company with Captain Dent of the army and his wife. She was given a placeon the government wagon from Wallula up and her first night was spent at the Fort. The next morning through the courtesy of the captain, she was driven out to her claim to view her possessions and greet her son. After staying two weeks and making permanent arrangements for a future removal she returned to Portland. After the birth of her daughter, in the summer, she made her final move to her donation land claim here in the valley. About this time she got a letter from her lawyer in Portland, the late Judge Shattuck, advising her to take $275 for her claim and relinquish it. She kept the claim, however, and went to work to support her family and improve her claim. May 23, 1861, she was married to Almos H. Reynolds. She was again widowed April 21, 1889.
Mrs. Reynolds leaves her four sons, Chas. W. Clark, Wm. S. Clark, Harry A. Reynolds, Allen H. Reynolds, a daughter Lizzie C. Baker, and a niece, Anna Hill, who has been her constant companion for many years.
Two brother's and son's sisters, one of whom, Mrs. D. S. Baker, resides in the city, are also left.
No funeral arrangements have yet been made.