Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

cated in the local public schools and Connecticut
Literary Institute at Suffield. At
the age of eighteen years he engaged with
an uncle at North Stonington, to learn the
art of carriage building. In 1857 he lo-
cated at the village of Hamburg, in the
town of Lyme, where he continued in the
business of building carriages and wagons
for a period of thirty-five years. This he
sold out in 1893 and thereafter conducted
a general store in Lyme until his retirement
in 1908. From this time he resided
in the town of Essex, where he died May
26, 1916. He married Aurelia Hayden, a
native of Hamburg.
Wilson S. Reynolds, third son of Ephraim
O. and Aurelia (Hayden) Reynolds,
was born June 10, 1864, in Lyme, and has
long been an influential citizen of Middle-
sex County, especially active in political
councils, a leader in the Republican party.
His education was begun in the public
schools near his birthplace and he was
later a student at the Connecticut Literary
Institute, like his father before him. As
a youth he was accustomed to assist in
the shops of his father and he almost unconsciously
acquired a thorough knowl-
edge of the details of the work and busi-
ness. Before attaining his majority he
spent four years in operating a sawmill
in Lyme. In 1886 he moved to Middletown
and was there employed as a journeyman
carriage builder by J. B. Evans.
Eight years later he returned to Lyme and
was engaged in agriculture for a period of
three years. In 1897 he again located in
Middletown, where he has since been
active in business, with the success naturally
accruing to one of his industry and
enterprise. He operated a shop where
wagons and carriages were built and re-
paired, and which was several times enlarged.
In 1905, when the automobile had
come into general use, he turned his at-
tention to handling this modern vehicle.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
223
this necessitating further enlargement of
his space and equipment for handling and
repairing. A department for horse-drawn
vehicles is still maintained, and the agency
for some of the best makes of motor ve-
hicles is operated, as well as a large re-
pairing plant. The continual growth of the
business testifies to his good management
and fair business methods. While
actively pursuing his own business, Mr.
Reynolds has not failed to keep abreast of
the times, and to perform his share in
maintaining the best interests of the community.
He is a charter member of Middletown
Lodge, No. 771, Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, and is also a
member of Central Lodge, No. 12, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows ; and
Apollo Lodge, No. 35, Knights of Pythias.
He has been for several years a member of
the Middletown Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment, and has performed something of his
public duty as a member of the city council
of Middletown, in which he served two
years. He is a member of the State Cen-
tral Committee of the Republican party,
active and influential in its councils, and
was alternate delegate to the National
Convention at Chicago in 1920, which
placed in nomination the late Warren G.
Harding for the office of president.
Mr. Reynolds was married, September
27, 1888, to May Belle Warner, who was
born July 14, 1867, third daughter of
Zebulon Brockway and Harriet Miranda .
(LaPlace) Warner of Lyme. Mr. and
Mrs. Reynolds are the parents of two
daughters, Hester Wilson and Helen Wal-
lace. The elder daughter is a capable
assistant in the office of her father.
HUBBARD, Robert Paddock,
Agricnltnrist.
The ancestry of Mr. Hubbard is a long
and noteworthy one, beginning in Con-