Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: REYNOLDS, Joseph A. C. (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 November 6, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II 339-340 JOSEPH A. C. REYNOLDS. Joseph A. C. Reynolds, an attorney at law of Denver, was born June 13, 1857, at Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada. His father was the Rev. Joseph Reynolds, a Methodist minister, who was born in England and in young manhood crossed the Atlantic to Canada, settling at what is now Ottawa, then known as Bytown. He became a distinguished clergyman of the Methodist faith in Ontario, where he devoted thirty-four years of his life to the work of preaching the gospel, passing away when he had reached the age of sixty years. His labors were not denied the full harvest nor the aftermath and the influence of his teachings is yet felt by those who came under his instructions. He married Deborah J. Darling, a native of Canada and of Scotch descent, her parents having been United Empire loyalists, who became pioneer residents of Canada. The death of Mrs. Reynolds occurred when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. By her marriage she had become the mother of three children, but Joseph A. C. Reynolds of this review is the only one now living. Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, Joseph A. C. Reynolds is indebted to the public and high school systems of Canada for the early education which he enjoyed. He later had the privilege of attending Victoria College at Cobourg, Canada, an institution that is now affiliated with the University of Toronto. He took his course there as an undergraduate with honors in classics and mathematics, in September, 1876. He then started out to provide for his own support, taking up educational work. He was made assistant master of the high school at Farmersville, Ontario, and continued to engage in teaching until he had earned sufficient money to enable him to pay his way through the university. On the 19th of July, 1873, he received his first certificate as a teacher in Simcoe, Norfolk county, Ontario, Canada, and as an educator he displayed marked ability, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. His success in that direction foreshadowed his ability at the bar. After completing his studies in the university he became an articled clerk in a law office in Hamilton, Ontario, entering the employ of Chisholm & Hazlett, one of the first law firms in the province. In 1882 Mr. Reynolds, because of ill health, left Canada and made his way to Denver, Colorado, where he arrived in the latter part of May. He was an utter stranger here and had therefore to win friends as well as position in his new home. His health was restored under the bracing climate of this state and he took up his abode at Leadville, where for one year he was principal of the Leadville high school. He afterward returned to Denver and was admitted to practice upon examination before the supreme court of Colorado on the 3d of January, 1885. Since that time, covering a period of a third of a century, he has concentrated his efforts and attention upon law practice and in a calling where advancement is proverbially slow he has made steady progress and has long occupied a commanding and enviable position in the ranks of the legal fraternity ol his adopted city. Mr. Reynolds was married in Denver in 1885 to Miss Carrie J. Fisher, a native of the province of Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Fisher, both now deceased. To them have been born four children, all of whom are yet living. The eldest, Clare Louise, is the wife of A. R. Griffin, a resident of Denver, and to them have been born two children, Jane Elizabeth and Jack Griffin, also natives of Denver. The second member of the family is Gladys, who is at home. The son, Gordon, is also at home. Dorothy has become the wife of Malcolm P. Roberts, a resident of Denver, and they have one child, Marjorie, who was born in Denver in 1918. Fraternally Mr. Reynolds is connected with the Knights of Pythias and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Warren Memorial Methodist church. High and honorable principles have actuated him at every point In his career and his entire record commands for him the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated. In politics he has ever given loyal support to the republican party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He served as justice of the peace during the year 1900 and later was deputy district attorney under George Stidger. He has sat as a delegate in almost every republican convention of the county and state for a period of twenty years-a fact indicative of the confidence which his fellow townsmen have In his judgment, his efficiency and his loyalty. He stands at all times for those interests and movements which he believes of worth to the community and his public-spirited devotion to the general good has wrought splendid results. In his profession, too, he has made a most creditable record. He passed first with honors out of twenty-three candidates at Osgood Hall in his first Intermediate law examination and fifth of forty-three in his second intermediate examination. The thoroughness with which he prepared for his profession has characterized the course that he has ever followed in practice. He closely studies every phase of every question that comes up in connection with the cases entrusted to his care and his retentive mind has often excited the surprise of his professional colleagues.