Butte County
Biographies
SHERMAN A. REYNOLDS
SHERMAN A. REYNOLDS.—While California was still in the initial period of its history as a state, the family of which Sherman A. Reynolds is a worthy representative became established here, and from the time of their settlement to the present they have been identified with the best interests of Sacramento Valley. Edward T. Reynolds, the father of Sherman A., was an early settler of Colusa County, in that part now partitioned and known as Glenn County. In 1874 he located in Butte County, where he gained a reputation as a progressive and successful rancher, to which occupation he devoted his attention for several years. He owned the ranch that is now known as the sewer farm, which property he sold to the City of Chico for that purpose.
Sherman A. Reynolds early began buying fruit, which commodity he packed and shipped. As early as 1898, he formed a partnership with his father, Edward T. Reynolds, under the firm name of E. T. Reynolds and Son, and the firm has become a decided factor in the packing of fruits and nuts in Northern California. When they first began packing and shipping, they leased an old store building, and packed about one hundred fifty to two hundred tons a year, exclusive of almonds. As the business grew they bought a warehouse at First and Cedar Streets and, in 1902, erected a building, forty by sixty feet in dimensions, on the corner of First and Cherry Streets, their present quarters. As the scope of their operations became wider they added to this from time to time until now they have thirty thousand square feet of floor space for the packing of dried fruit and almonds. They are known as the largest individual handlers of almonds in the state, having handled, in 1915 and 1916, as many almonds as any firm in California. They are likewise large dealers in dried prunes and peaches; their output of dried fruit, which is all graded and packed in boxes, amounts to about thirty-five hundred tons annually. The capacity of the packing outfit is thirty tons of fancy pack in ten hours, and fifty tons of rough pack in the same period of time. One of the largest prune-graders in California has been installed by this progressive firm, with a capacity of ten tons per hour. A large steam boiler for steaming the fruit is a feature of their equipment and all the machinery is operated by electricity. The warehouses have sidetracks from the Southern Pacific Railway on two sides of the buildings, and two cars can be handled at a time. During the months of the heavy run, September and October, their receipt of fruit is in such large quantities that they run double shifts, employing about eighty hands during the season. The business has now reached very large proportions, about seven hundred fifty thousand dollars annually, and is the second largest concern in Chico. They now handle fruit for the Association, but all fruit is sold under their own brands and through their own brokers. Mr. Reynolds, with others, owns the Cana Land Company, comprising two hundred acres at Cana, one hundred ten of which is in prunes, apricots and peaches, all full bearing.
Sherman A. Reynolds, the junior member of this enterprising firm, was born in what is now Hamilton City, Glenn County, December 29, 1878. He received his education in the public schools of Chico, Woodman’s Academy, and the Chico State Normal, which he entered at the age of seventeen and continued his studies for two and one-half years. He then quit school to engage in the fruit business with his father, in 1898, when the firm of E. T. Reynolds and Son was established, and ever since that date his entire time has been given to building up a business second to none of its character in Northern California.
Mr. Reynolds was married, in Suisun, in 1908, to Miss Nellie Davisson, born at Guinda, Yolo County. She graduated from the Chico State Normal, after which she taught school until her marriage. Three children have blessed their union: Edward, Mary Helen, and Carroll. Mr. Reynolds was made a Mason in Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. & A. M., and belongs to Chico Chapter No. 42, R. A. M., in which he served as High Priest for two terms, and to Chico Commandery, No. 12, K. T., and Knight Templar Inspector for the second section of District No. 3. He also belongs to Josephine Chapter No. 104, O. E. S. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
In politics Mr. Reynolds is a Republican. In 1915 he was elected one of the city trustees from the third ward, and has been a very active member of the board; he is chairman of the commission on fire, light and water, and a member of the other important commissions. After becoming a member of the council he was chairman of the commission that tore down all the old awnings and put in electroliers, making an up-to-date system; since assuming the chairmanship of the commission on fire, light and water, the fire department has been equipped with motor power, on the steamer and truck, and other necessary appliances to keep pace with the rapidly growing city. He is a member and past foreman of Engine Company No. 1, and of the Chico Business Men’s Association. With his family, he resides at 1012 First Street, where a cheerful hospitality is dispensed by both himself and wife.
Transcribed
by Sharon Walford Yost.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1168-1169, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Sharon
Walford Yost.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies