William McReynolds came to California during the Gold Rush with other members of his family and was an early resident of Sonoma County.

Enumerated as William (a. 24, bp. VA, "Gold Hunter" with 200 in Real Estate) living with his father Jacob McReynolds in the 1850 Census for LaFayette County in Missouri.

Listed in the 1852 California Census for Sonoma County (recorded on 20 Aug 1852), page 40, as Will McReynolds (a. 28, bp. VA, last residence: MO, occupation: Farmer). Also listed are his wife, Virginia McReynolds (a. 17, bp. AR, last residence: AR), and his brother, Jacob McReynolds (a. 25, bp. VA, last residence: MO, occupation: Farmer).

In the 1860 Census for Sonoma County, William is listed living in the Analy Township, dwelling #94 as Wm McReynolds (a. 35, bp. VA). He is a farmer with $3000 of Real Estate and $2000 of personal property. Also enumerated in his household are Virginia McReynolds (a. 25, bp. AR), James M. McReynolds (a. 7, bp. CA), Claibourn C. McReynolds (a. 4, bp. CA), Matilda C. McReynolds (a. 2, bp. CA), Francis J. McReynolds (a. 6M, bp. CA), and Josiah Gauldin (a. 24, bp. MO, occupation: Farm Laborer with $500 of personal property). His parents Jacob and Anna McReynolds are enumerated next to his family in dwelling #95.

He is listed in Sonoma County Marriages 1847-1902 (Sonoma County Genealogical Society, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA: 1st Edition, March 1980), as William MC REYNOLDS to Virginia P HUDSPETH on 9 Jan 1851, (no place recorded), officiated by C M Hudspeth, and recorded in Marriages Book A Page 3.

He and his wife appear to have had two infants buried in the Spring Hill Cemetery near Sebastopol before moving to Oregon.

From Sonoma County Deed Index (compiled by Susan Zeni):

From Santa Rosa, a nineteenth century town, by Gaye LeBaron, Dee Blackman, Joann Mitchell, and Harvey Hanson (Historia, Ltd., Santa Rosa: c1985), p. 56:

William McReynolds, a Green Valley potato rancher, built the first potato warehouses; one at Bodega Bay in 1851 and another, with his partner James Hudspeth, in Petaluma.

From McReynolds Family Westward Bound by Glenva Conklin (copied for me by Susan Zeni) pp. 36:

William was born in Washington County, Virginia and came West through Illinois and then into Missouri where the family settled. In 1849 the California gold rush could no longer be ignored so William and his brother Jacob, and their cousin George Ragle crossed the plains stopping at Sonora, California. The next year he went to Sonoma County, California buying land in Green Valley near Sebastopol. It was here he married Virginia on the Hudspeth homeplace. They left Sonoma County in 1882 moving to Portland, Oregon. He made his home here until his last years. Then he went to Seaside, Oregon to live with his daughter, Mrs. Lena Caroline Shaver, where he died. He is buried in the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland, Oregon where two daughters are also buried along with his wife Virginia and his brother Jacob. William was an active member of the Society of California Pioneers.

Obituary in an uncited Santa Rosa newspaper (from McReynolds Family Westward Bound by Glenva Conklin, pp. 36-37):

DEATH CALLS FOR WM. McREYNOLDS

Early Sonoma Pioneer Passes Away at Seaside Oregon,
at Midnight of Saturday -- Last of a Large Family

William McReynolds died about midnight Saturday at Seaside Oregon. The news was received here Sunday by his son James M. McReynolds, engineer of the Santa Rosa Fire Department. The tidings had been expected; for just a week earlier, as published then in this paper, word was received that the aged man was in extremis. He was nearly 86 years of age, and was ill ten days with congestion of the lungs.

Mr. McReynolds was a Sonoma county pioneer, having crossed the plains in 1849. His first rendezvous was at the historic town of Sonoma, in company with his brother, Jacob McReynolds, and their cousin, the late George Ragle. Mr. McReynolds located at Spring Hill in Green Valley the next year, and two years later removed to the head of Green valley, on the place lately owned by the late Steve McReynolds, the late Owen Burns, and G. W. Barnett. It was in Green Valley that Mr. McReynolds was married to Miss Virginia Pryor Hudspeth, on January 9, 1851. The wedding was on the old Hudspeth place, west of Spring Hill. Thirteen children were born to the pair, of whom three sons and one daughter, survive. James M. McReynolds of Santa Rosa, Sterling Price McReynolds of Lewiston, Idaho, Arthur Ben Franklin McReynolds of Seattle, and Mrs. Lena Caroline Shaver, wife of George E. Shaver, of Seaside. It was at the home of the last-named that the father passed away. He had lived with his son-in-law's family for two years preceeding his death. He left Sonoma county in 1882, and lived in Portland since then until he went to Seaside. His wife died in 1887.

The deceased is well-remembered by all the old pioneers of Sonoma who still survive, and by their children as well. He was quite prominent here in early days, and was an early and leading member of the Society of California Pioneers. He is believed to have been the last survivor of a family of fifteen children. But one of his brothers may still be alive Isaac McReynolds, who visited here eleven years ago, but was never since heard from. The family came originally from Washington County, Virginia, and was one of the earliest families in that state.

Mr. McReynolds was buried Monday afternoon in Lone Fir cemetery, Portland, Oregon, where reposes the body of his wife, together with that of his brother Jacob and two daughters.

Obituary from the Santa Rosa Republican, Monday, March 28, 1910 (thanks to Susan Zeni):

Sonoma Pioneer Passes Away

Death Calls Wm. M’Reynolds at Advanced Age

James M. McReynolds, engineer of the fire department, received the sad news on Sunday of the death of his beloved father, William McReynolds. The later passed away at his home at Seaside, Oregon, almost midnight on Saturday, at the extreme age of almost 86 years. He was a well known former resident of this section, having been one of the earliest pioneers in this vicinity. He was here in 1849, and it was here that he married and most of the thirteen children born to him and his good wife came to bless their union. Many of the old timers will remember the deceased and will hear of his passing away with regret.

Mr McReynolds was a prominent member of the Society of California Pioneers, and was greatly interested in the progress and development of this section. He was married in this city on January 9, 1851, to Miss Virginia Pryor Hudspeth, daughter of the late C. M. Hudspeth. A judge from Sacramento was to come and perform the marriage ceremony, but because of the high water at that time he was unable to reach the scene. The father of the bride, who was a justice of the peace, performed the ceremony, so there would not be a postponement. To the couple thirteen children were born of whom four still survive. These are James McReynolds of this city, Sterling McReynolds of Lewiston, Idaho; Mrs. George E Shaver of SeaSide, Oregon; and Frank McReynolds of Portland. The wife of the deceased passed away on January 14, 1887.

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, the interment being in Lone Fir cemetery at Portland, Oregon.

The deceased was one of fifteen children, and was probably the last survivor of the immediate family. There was one brother, Isaac McReynolds, who visited here eleven years ago, but he has not been heard from in recent years, and it is not known whether he is still alive or not.