BIOS: John J. REYNALDS, Confluence, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon Trosan Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp. 92 and 95. John J. Reynalds, a retired railway and express official, residing in Confluence, Somerset County, Pa., was born in Addison, Pa., May 30, 1828, son of William and Mary (Jones) Reynalds. The family is of German origin, and its immigrant ancestor was Jacob Reynalds, who, after his arrival in this country, settled in Frederick, Md. He served under General Washington in the Revolutionary War. James Reynalds, son of Jacob and father of William Reynalds above named, was a native of Frederick, Md. He settled in Pittsburg, Pa., and in connection with tavern-keeping he ran a line of teams along the old Braddock Road. He died in Pittsburg. His first wife, formerly a Miss Brown, bore him four sons; and by his union with his second wife, whose maiden name was Simkins, there were one son and three daughters. William Reynalds, son of James, was born in Brownsville, Pa., in 1804. When a young man he engaged in the hotel and teaming business. Later, entering the employ of the Adams Express Company, he worked his way forward to the position of general agent at Pittsburg. He also superintended the buying of horses between Philadelphia and New Orleans. He was accidentally killed on the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1857. Mrs. Mary Jones Reynalds, his first wife, who was a daughter of Jacob Jones, of Addison, died in 1828, leaving two sons: James, who is no longer living; and John J., the subject of this sketch. William Reynalds married for his wife Almira Ludington. She became the mother of ten children, three of whom are living, namely: Allie, who married John M. Hartman, and resides in Uniontown, Pa.; and Margaret and Jane, both of whom are residing in Pittsburg. John J. Reynalds acquired his education in the public schools. When he was five years old he went with his parents to Virginia, and from there to Garrett County, Maryland, where they remained two years before returning to Addison. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship of two and one-half years at the saddler's trade. For about two years, when a young man, he drove a team on the national road from Cumberland to Wheeling. He afterward drove an omnibus in Philadelphia, and then entered the service of Adams Express Company. He was employed both in the stock and transportation departments for many years, going from one to the other as circumstances required, and as messenger he ran on nearly all the important Western routes. On one occasion he assisted his father and two others to transport a million and a half in silver from the mint in New Orleans to the Philadelphia mint, and he was frequently dispatched with large sums of money from different points to New York City. Leaving the Adams Company, he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as baggage-master, from which position he was advanced to that of conductor, and he remained in the railway service eleven years. He next accepted a position with the Merchants' Union Express Company in Pittsburg, remaining there four years, and after a pleasure trip through the Western States, he worked at his trade in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, for the succeeding two years. In 1879 he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and, locating in Confluence, served as trackman, as baggage- master, and express-messenger, and upon the detective force until his retirement. On April 10, 1855, Mr. Reynalds was joined in marriage with Nancy A. Bradley, daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Conway) Bradley. Her father came from Ireland when seventeen years old, and her mother was born in Fayette County. Mrs. Reynalds's parents had a family of twelve children. Seven of them are living, namely: John, Julia, Sarah, Jackson, Daniel, Nancy A., and Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. Reynalds have had seven children, namely: George W., a railroad engineer, who was killed by a dynamite explosion in 1889; Margaret, wife of George H. Walton, of Confluence; David M., corresponding clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Pittsburg; Robert, who is in mercantile business in Cumberland, Md.; Mary, who married John F. Black, a merchant at Dickinson Run, Pa.; Annie wife of West Gibson, a railway employee; and Jennie, who is now residing at Dickinson Run, Pa. Mr. Reynalds has rendered efficient service to the township as Councilman, School Director and Street Overseer. In 1893 he was appointed Postmaster, holding office for over four years. In politics he is a Democrat. Mrs. Reynalds is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.