Joseph M. Reynolds

REYNOLDS, MUDEN, BARTLETT

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/13/2009 at 15:48:30

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

page 805

JOSEPH M. REYNOLDS is the senior
member of the firm of Reynolds & Ide,
merchants at Brayton, Iowa. Messrs.
Reynolds & Ide carry a general stock, and
both being active business men they do a
large and prosperous trade. Both gentlemen
are well and favorably known. Mr. Rey-
nolds was born in Orange County, New York,
in the heart of the great cheese and butter
region, January 4, 1852. He is the third
of a family of six children of Patrick and
Mary (Muden) Reynolds, who were born and
reared in Ireland. The father was born in
the county of Longford, and the mother in
the county of Leitrem, near the Shannon
River. In the fall of 1839 the parents emi-
grated to America, landed in the city of New
York, and at once proceeded to Orange
County. Patrick Reynolds at once identi-
fied himself with the old Whig party, and
became a warm supporter of the same. On
the organization of the Republican party his
sympathies were with it, and he fought in the
war of the Rebellion. From Orange County
the family removed to Muscatine County,
Iowa, in January, 1854. For many years
the father was employed by the C., R. I. &
P. Railroad, and was a valued and trusty
man. He died at West Liberty, Iowa, hon-
ored by all who knew him. His wife is still
living, and is now a resident of Des Moines.
The boyhood days of Joseph M. Reynolds
were passed in West Liberty, where he re-
ceived his education. On leaving school he
accepted a clerkship for a short time; he
then entered the employ of the railroad com-
pany, beginning at the bottom round of the
ladder. He rose to the position of passenger
conductor, when he met with an accident that
caused the loss of two fingers of his left hand.
He then took up the study of telegraphy, and
became an operator and station agent in the
employ of the C., R. I. & P. R. R. Co., for a
period of ten years. In 1876 he came to
Brayton and opened the station, and contin-
ued there until 1886. In 1887 he embarked
in the mercantile trade, purchasing the stock
of W. Bartlett & Son, and associating him-
self with O. F. Ide, Esq. Mr. Reynolds is a
thorough business man, and in connection
with his mercantile interests he carries on
farming and stock-raising to a considerable
extent. Mr. Reynolds was united in mar-
riage in 1881 to Miss Lillie Bartlett, the
only daughter of Washington Bartlett, Esq.,
whose biography appears on another page of
this volume. This union has been blessed
with one child -- Beatrice. Although young
she is quite accomplished in music. Owing
to failing health Mr. Reynolds has traveled
considerably during the past two years. He
is one of the active members of Audubon
Lodge, No. 217, I. O. O. F.