The pioneer history of Illinois, containing the discovery in 1673, and the history of the country to the year 1818, when the state government was organized

John Reynolds (1788-1865) served on the Illinois Supreme Court 1818-1825, was a member of the Illinois legislature 1826-1830, 1846-1848 and 1852-1854 (the last term as Speaker of the House), and served as Governor of Illinois 1830-1834. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1834-1837 and 1839-1843.

Reynolds arrived in Illinois with his parents as a child, living first in Kaskaskia and then in the Goshen settlement southwest of Edwardsville. He served as a soldier during the War of 1812, after which he began a law career. This history was originally published in 1852.