William Albert, W.A., or "Toss" as he was best known, was the oldest
     son of Frank and Anna Bertha Lindtner McReynolds. He was born December
     24, 1888, on the claim staked by his father in 1883.
       He rode a horse to and from grade school at Cedar Hill, a mile south
     of the homeplace. Later, he attended school in Anthony and Medicine
     Lodge. He worked with his father and brother, Chauncey, in farming and
     ranching. He rode the range and went on several cattle drives.
       He had a Case steam engine and a threshing machine and went about the
     country threshing grain. He was hardworking and had a keen business sense.
       He married Rosie Alberta Tewell on June 15, 1919, in Wichita. She was
     born December 24, 1891, the daughter of James and Mary Tewell. To this
     couple was born one daughter, Wilda Alberta.
       Toss and Bertie lived for a time on the Buckles place one mile north of
     Hazelton and later moved to the homeplace, where they lived until their
     deaths. He died may 3, 1947, and she died October 6, 1956.
       Bertie was a good cook and did the cooking in the cook-shack for the
     threshing crews, sometimes feeding as many as 25 men. She was a small,
     quiet woman who went about her work never complaining and always teaching
     patience, kindness, and thriftiness. She enjoyed sewing and quilting. She
     raised chickens, turkeys, and guineas, and did a lot of home-canning. Her
     sand plum jelly and jam and apple pies could not be beat. She was a member
     of the Progressive Club and the Cedar EHU.
       Toss was a good judge of livestock and took pride in the Angus cattle
     the family raised. He exhibited a pen of Grand Champion Angus Steers at
     the American Royal in Kansas City in the late 1930's. His live for animals
     was apparent in the many pets he cared for throughout his life. He had
     greyhounds which he used for hunting coyotes and several "Heinz 57 varity"
     dogs that were his constant companions. One of which was by his bedside
     at his death. He always had "pets" among the cattle that he could walk
     up to, scratch, or feed from his hand. His favorite horse was "Spark Plug,"
     or "Sparky," which he rode while tending the cattle. He was a good roper,
     rarely missing the calf with the first loop.
       Toss had a good sense of humor, enjoyed joking with friends and neighbors,
     and always had a nickname for everyone he knew. He thoroughly enjoyed poking
     fun at the Democrats and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
       Toss and Bertie worked hard and endured many hardships, yet there were
     good times at the barn dances where Toss often played his fiddle, at literary,
     at spelling bees, at card parties, or visiting friends and neighbors in
     Hazelton or Sharon on Saturday night when everyone came to town. He was a
     member of the Hazelton Masonic Lodge and served on School and Township
     Boards.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 309 
     Submitted by: Wilda McReynolds Mathews