Weld-Pueblo-Bent County CO Archives Biographies.....Reynolds, Hubert 1860 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 13, 2009, 8:25 pm Author: Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918) HUBERT REYNOLDS. Public progress and activity in Greeley receive great stimulus through the enterprise of Hubert Reynolds, who occupies the position of postmaster but has also been instrumental in promoting a number of public enterprises which have turned out to be of great value to his community. He was representative of his district in the upper house of the legislature and has ever been helpful in the projects of the Commercial Club of Greeley, of which he was one of the founders. Hubert Reynolds was born May 10, 1860, at South Amherst, Lorain county, Ohio, a son of Lord Nelson and Jane Reynolds, the former horn July 15, 1821, in Elizabeth township, Essex county, New York, and the latter a native of Utica, New York. The father died at Las Animas, Colorado, February 17, 1892, while on a visit to this state. The mother, whose maiden name was Jane Abel, passed away in Monroe, Michigan, September 19, 1877. Their marriage was solemnized at Henrietta, Lorain county, Ohio, February 28, 1845. L. N. Reynolds. was extensively engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages, employing many men, and his business extended into several western states. He was very successful in this line and was at the head of a representative commercial enterprise of his vicinity. In 1869 he closed out his business in Ohio, and with his family removed to Monroe, Michigan, buying property in that city and also obtaining title to farms in the vicinity. He was endowed with musical tastes and prominent in musical circles, deeply interested in church and Sunday school work, and in every way recognized as a man of stalwart character who could be depended upon in all of his dealings. Hubert Reynolds attended school in Monroe, Michigan, the family having removed thither when our subject was but nine years of age. On account of poor health he was, however, obliged to give up school work one year before graduation. His delicate health caused him to come to Colorado, January 10, 1878, finding employment with a brother-in-law, Burrell D. Smith, a prominent stock raiser, thirty-five miles east of Pueblo, who was located upon what is now known as the old Smith ranch, just across the Arkansas river from Fowler. On this ranch Mr. Reynolds continued for five years as a cowboy, having charge of the outfit during the last three years of that period. Mr. Smith having sold his ranch and cattle in the fall of 1882, Mr. Reynolds proceeded to Leadville during the following spring, remaining there for a short time, but finding the kind of life led in a mining camp not to his liking, he returned to Las Animas, securing a position in the drug store of William E. Culver. He remained in that position until September, 1886, when he went to Chicago and entered the department of pharmacy of Northwestern University, graduating from that institution in the spring of 1888 with the degree of Ph. G. Returning to Las Animas, he resumed his position in the Culver drug store and proved up on one hundred and sixty acres of land under the Fort Lyon canal and also purchased property in the town. Later be bought a half interest in the book and stationery department of the store. In 1891 he married Minnie A. Culver, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Culver. At the time of the wedding, which took place at two p. m., Judge Gunter, now Governor Gunter, was holding court, he then being district judge of the district, and he adjourned court for two hours in order that their many friends could attend the wedding, an incident that both have always remembered with much satisfaction. In March, 1893, Mr. Reynolds came to Greeley and opened a drug store, with new fixtures and a new stock, under the name of H. Reynolds & Company, Mr. Culver being interested in the new firm. This business grew and later Mr. Reynolds established or became interested in other drug stores, notably the C. D. Smith Drug Company, of Grand Junction, Mr. Smith being a nephew of Mr. Reynolds. In time Mr. Reynolds sold his interests, including stores at Las Animas and Windsor. In 1910 he sold his store in Greeley to C. W. Gilbert, thereby closing out all his interests in the drug business. In the fall of that year, at the solicitation of many friends, he was placed on the democratic ticket as a candidate for county assessor, realizing that his chance of election was very slight, and so it proved to be. During the next year and a half he spent his time in Greeley, Grand Junction and at Las Animas, where he owned a ranch, on which he worked at times. In the spring of 1913 Mr. Reynolds was invited to attend a meeting of prominent democrats who were desirous of reorganizing the party and who believed there was a chance to elect at least a few democrats at the fall election. He was asked to take the county chairmanship, but not having had experience in politics he objected, feeling that he was not equal to the task of organizing a party that had not elected a candidate (or but very few) in twenty years. However, they insisted, there being some forty democrats present, and he finally said he would do his best. Offices were opened May 15th and a vigorous campaign carried on during the summer and fall. All precincts were visited several times and considerable enthusiasm worked up. Democrats who had been asleep for years, as far as party loyalty was concerned, awoke to the need of a change in the administration of affairs in the county. Speakers from abroad were obtained, such as Thomas H. Marshall, Champ Clark, Senators Thomas and Shafroth, Edward T. Taylor, and many others of national fame, who spoke to overflowing meetings. The day before the county convention was called to nominate a ticket it was impossible to get candidates to fill all positions on the ticket, the office of state senator being the most important one. Mr. Reynolds was called upon by several gentlemen, who requested that he make the race for that office. He refused, stating that he had had no experience as a legislator and was not familiar with the duties which they are called upon to perform. They insisted, stating it would never do to place a ticket in the field and not have a candidate for senator. After several hours of talk Mr. Reynolds finally said that he would run, providing a candidate could not be obtained up to the time of calling the convention together. No candidate was found, and when his name was presented he was nominated by a rising vote, there being no opposition. He continued his efforts to elect the ticket but made practically no effort for himself. The result was that the entire county ticket, with three exceptions, was elected, and all of the judicial and legislative ticket was elected by splendid majorities, Mr. Reynolds having a majority of nearly nine hundred votes. He served one session of the nineteenth general assembly, resigning during the summer, having received the appointment ns postmaster and commencing his duties September 1, 1913. On the 24th of January, 1918, he was reappointed. On the 10th of September, 1889, at Las Animas, Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Minnie A. Culver, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Culver. She died at Greeley, Colorado, May 23, 1901. To this union were born the following children, Burrell Culver, Nelson Elmer, Burton Ralph and Frances M. Mrs. Reynolds came of Colorado pioneer stock. Her father, W. E. Culver, was one of the earliest settlers of Bent county and the first county assessor. He assisted in organizing Las Animas and was the first mayor of the city, and that his services were satisfactory is evident from the fact that he was elected for several terms. During the Harrison administration he was postmaster of Las Animas and was reappointed by President McKinley. On June 8, 1903, Mr. Reynolds was again married, this union being with Miss Mary M. Jones, of Denver. She comes of an old and distinguished Maryland family, her father having been a lawyer by profession. He was a conspicuous figure in the early affairs of Bent and Pueblo counties. His wife, Eliza Y. Jones, is a daughter of Colonel A. B Boone and a direct descendant of Daniel Boone. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are popular in the social circles of the city and the hospitality of their home is often partaken of by their many friends. Mr. Reynolds is not a member of any church but is interested in moral and intellectual development and with his wife and family attends the Congregational church. Fraternally he is prominent as a Mason, having been received into the order at Las Animas, Colorado, in 1890. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M., of Las Animas, of which he was secretary for two years, but upon removing to Greeley demitted from that lodge and joined accidental Lodge, No. 20, of Greeley. He is also a member of the Elks' Club. He was one of the organizers of the Greeley Commercial Club and had the honor and distinction of serving as the first president of this progressive organization, which has done so much toward extending the trade interests of Greeley and bringing about other valuable improvements in the city. His club relations are with the Greeley Commercial Club and the Greeley Club, of the latter of which organizations he served as a director for one year. Mr. Reynolds is a stockholder and director in the Antero & Lost Park Reservoir Company. In 1891 he served for one term as city alderman of Las Animas and in 1914 was elected from Greeley to represent his district in the state senate. He painstakingly took care of the interests of his constituents and made his influence felt not only in committee rooms but addressed the house from the floor when occasion demanded. While yet a boy Mr. Reynolds had a short military experience, serving in a company of cadets which consisted of about seventy members. He was then about fifteen years of age, continuing in that organization for two years and having attained the rank of second lieutenant when the company was disbanded. For forty years Mr. Reynolds has been a resident of Colorado and he has become a thoroughly western man, progressive and enterprising. Coming to Colorado as a cow puncher, he was subsequently for years successful in the drug business and along other lines and he now serves efficiently as postmaster and has come in contact with the various phases of development in his state, having not only been a witness thereof, but having by his own labors contributed to the state's progress. His honorable purpose and his manly qualities have ever been recognized by his friends and his standing in his community is an enviable one. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF COLORADO ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. 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