John N ReynoldsJohn N. Reynolds was born in the United States and spent his early years in Indianola, Iowa, before relocating to Nebraska, where he became actively involved in local governance and banking. He played a significant role in the creation of Nance Count, Nebraska, which was named after the state's governor at the time, and served as county clerk for four years. During this time, he also helped establish the Citizens' Bank, serving initially as its cashier and later as its president. Although his business was prospering, his wife's health declined, prompting a move to Atchison, Kansas. There, he began publishing a daily newspaper, the "Times." In Atchison, Reynolds encountered one of the most corrupt political systems in the region, which had controlled local politics for nearly a quarter of a century. This experience with corruption, combined with his background in business and governance, greatly influenced his perspective on the failures of political institutions. His firsthand insights into the penal system were also shared in his book The Twin Hells, which critiques the brutal realities of the 19th-century prison system, emphasizing the inadequacy of rehabilitation and the harsh treatment of inmates. Read More Read Less