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David Reynolds
DAVID REYNOLDS, now living retired at Ford City, Armstrong county, is a
member of a family which has been known in Kittanning, this county, for may
years, his grandfather, David Reynolds, having founded the hotel there which
bore his name, and its modern successor, the “Hotel Reynolds”,
continues to be one of the well-known places of public entertainment in this
region.David Reynolds, the grandfather, was for many years engaged in the hotel
business, being proprietor of the old frame hotel at Kittanning, the first
“Reynolds House”. He also had other interests, being a man of wealth
and influence, and owned large tracts of land, farming on an extensive scale.
He was a Whig in politics, and served several years as postmaster at
Kittanning. He was twice married, his first wife being a Woodward, his second
a Ross, and his children were as follows: Harriet, wife of John Leech, of
Leechburg, Pa.; Margaret, wife of Peter Weaver, of Freeport, Pa.; Mary, wife
of John Watson; Absalom Woodward; Washington; Alexander; Frank; Ross; Jane,
widow of Joseph Graff, now residing at Graff station, in Manor township;
Judith, wife of A. J. Dull, of Harrisburg, Pa.; and Sallie, who died
unmarried.Alexander Reynolds, son of David, was for many years engaged in the iron
business, in that connection building a furnace in Armstrong county and one in
Clarion county, being one of the pioneers in this industry in this section of
Pennsylvania. He was a man of recognized business ability, accumulated
considerable means, and retained the respect and esteem of his fellow men
throughout his long and active life. He was a Whig in politics, subsequently a
Republican. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, and belonged to the
Masonic fraternity. Mr. Reynolds died in 1880, at the age of seventy-three
years. His wife, Martha (Dennison), died about 1887, at the age of
sixty-seven. They were the parents of the following children: David; Sarah D.,
widow of Dr. J. G. Cunningham; John D; and Ellen, who married Capt W. R. May.David Reynolds, son of Alexander, was born Oct. 12, 1840, in Kittanning, in
the old frame hotel known as the “Reynolds House,” which occupied
the same site as the present brick “Hotel Reynolds.” He began his
education in the public schools of Kittanning and for three years attended the
Turtle Creek Academy, after which he entered the Sewickley Academy, where he
was also a pupil for about three years. He then went to Red Bank Furnace,
where he became identified with his father in the iron business, in which line
they had a large and profitable patronage for many years. He was in this
business for about thirty-six years in all, he and his brother John D.
continuing it for several years after the death of their father. About 1888
David Reynolds withdrew and located at Ford City, which at that time was a
settlement of only a few houses. The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, who have
the largest works of the kind in the world, having established a plant at Ford
City. Mr. Reynolds became watchman for that concern, continuing to hold that
position about one year. In 1890 he was elected burgess of the new town of
Ford City, and a little later was elected assessor, holding the former office
for three years and the latter for five years. During the Roosevelt
administration he was appointed postmaster at Ford City, and served as such
four years, since which time he has been living retired from active pursuits.
He is a highly respected citizen, having served his community well in every
office to which he was chosen. He is a Mason, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 244,
F. & A. M., and or Orient Chapter, No. 247, R. A M., both of Kittanning.In 1867 Mr. Reynolds married Margaret Dietrick, and they are the parents of
four children: Sarah D., deceased, wife of W. E. Noble; Harry A., who is
prominently identified with the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company; David, Jr.;
and Kissie, widow of Dr. W. D. Jessop, dentist (they had two children, Dorothy
R. and Clair).Source: Pages 630-631, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 2001 by Lynn Beatty for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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