San
Joaquin County
Biographies
DAVID R. REYNOLDS
For the past sixty-nine years, David
R. Reynolds has been a resident of San Joaquin County, and he is naturally most
familiar with the history of those early days, his mind bearing the impress of
the pioneer annals of the Pacific coast.
In San Joaquin County he took up his abode and became influential in the
progress and development of his locality.
Mr. Reynolds is a native of Putnam
County, Indiana, his birth occurring May 1, 1835, and he was one of five sons
born to James and Martha (Ramsey) Reynolds, both natives of Kentucky. The eldest son, Richard, a farmer and miner
at French Camp, San Joaquin County, died 1915, being then eighty-three. The other three sons are Eldridge and Edward,
twins; and James A., residing at Capitola.
His great-grandfather in the Reynolds line was a soldier of the
Revolutionary War, and his maternal grandfather displayed equal valor in
defending American interests in the second war with England. When David R. Reynolds was in his fourth year
his parents removed to Grant County, Wisconsin, becoming pioneers of that
district. Wisconsin had not then been
admitted to the Union, and amid the wild scenes of frontier life our subject
was reared to his eighteenth year, when the family started for California
across the plains, being from May until September upon the way. They first settled near the present site of
Placerville, but in the fall of 1854 came to San Joaquin County, where the
father, James Reynolds, settled upon a ranch near French Camp. He entered land from the Government, and was
one of the earliest residents upon what is known as the sand plains. There he remained until his death in 1867,
assisting in the pioneer development of the county.
Cutler Salmon, who crossed the
plains with the party of which Mr. Reynolds was a member, served in the Black
Hawk War in Wisconsin and received from the U. S. Government a claim for 160
acres of land. David R. Reynolds purchased
this claim from Mr. Salmon. This was at
the time of the second election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency of the
United States and Mr. Lincoln’s name appeared on the deed to Mr. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds farmed this place from 1855 to
1860, then returned east via Panama to Wisconsin. There on May 11, 1862, he married Miss Isabel
Harelson, a schoolmate of his boyhood.
In 1864, with his bride, he crossed the plains the second time and
located on his ranch where he farmed for fifty-two years before retiring and
moving to Stockton. He at first owned
160 acres, but as his financial resources increased he added to this property
until he owned 320 acres. In the early
days grain ran about fifty bushels to the acre and Mr. Reynolds in addition
raised considerable stock which he pastured on the San Joaquin River. He was a member of the Grange and the cause
of education and religion received his hearty support, serving for twenty-six
years as trustee of the Union school district.
Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are the parents of five children: Melvin E., Clyde H. and Matt C. are deceased;
and the two daughters, Henrietta and Gertrude Belle. There are two grandchildren, the children of
Clyde H.; Gertrude Isabel and M. Clinton.
Miss Henrietta Reynolds is widely known for her activity in the
restoration of the East Union Cemetery near Manteca. A number of years ago she undertook the plan
to restore the church and cemetery to its former beauty and she has worked hard
and faithfully among the families of the pioneers and with the aid of the
Native Daughters of California, the cemetery has been restored and is a
monument to her efforts. A new wire
fence has been built and a concrete archway constructed bearing the inscription
“Union Cemetery, Memorial to the pioneers of the vicinity.” A memorial tablet on the east side of the
arch gives the names and dates of the deceased pioneers, the first name being
that of W. O. Lewis who came to California via Mexico in 1846. This almost forgotten burial place of the
hardy pioneers now shows signs of loving care and the residents of San Joaquin
County owe a lasting debt of gratitude to Miss Reynolds for her efforts in
restoring this noted and historic cemetery.
Miss Gertrude Belle Reynolds is an elocutionist of exceptional ability
and a great favorite at Stockton where she has appeared repeatedly at concerts
and entertainments. Perhaps no other of
Stockton’s daughters has received as numerous and flattering press notices as
has Miss Reynolds.
D. R. Reynolds is one of
California’s most honored pioneers. When
living at Hangtown, he became acquainted with Mr. J. M. Studebaker, in
1853. Their acquaintance grew into a
lasting friendship. Later on Mr.
Studebaker went back to his old home at South Bend, Indiana, and then began to
build wagons and buggies on an extensive scale.
Mr. Studebaker stuck with the gold camp at Hangtown for five years. He did not meet with any great success as a
gold-miner, so directed his energies to making wheelbarrows and tunnel cars in
a small shop at Hangtown, which was the real beginning of the great Studebaker
manufacturing concern, now one of the greatest corporations in the land.
On May 11, 1922, Mr. and Mrs.
Reynolds celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage at their home
745 East Sonora Street, Stockton, which was a happy event in the lives of these
old and esteemed pioneers. Mr. Reynolds
has a clear mind and a remarkable memory of the events of the early days, his
own experience in mining at Hangtown, the depredations of bandits and the swift
justice meted out by the Vigilantes. His
name should be enduringly inscribed upon the records of the early settlers of
San Joaquin County.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
441-442. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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