Untitled - citizen hylbom blog

A. M. : Satucket Chapter, R. A. M. Brockton
;
Council, R. & S. M. and ; Bay State Command-
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS 659
Stephens (Knowles) Reynolds, was born March
4, 1856, in North Bridgewater, now the city
of Brockton, Mass., at the old homestead on
Pleasant street, and acquired his early educational
training in the district schools of his
neighborhood, attending the same until he was
about fifteen years of age. During the time not
spent in the schoolroom, and until he was nineteen
years of age, he was kept busy at shoemaking
with his father, under whose training he
learned the details of the making of shoes from
the cutting of the stock to the finishing of the
same ready for the market. At the age of nineteen
years he left his father's employ and entered
the shoe factory of his elder brother,
Lowell Mason Reynolds, as foreman of the
stitching room, remaining in this capacity until
1881, at which time he and his younger brother,
Luke Webster Reynolds, became partners
in the business, which was then conducted under
the firm name of L. M. Reynolds & Co., he
continuing an active member of this firm for
a period of nine years. Deciding to enter business
on his own account, in 1890, Mr. Reynolds
withdrew from the firm of L. M. Reynolds
& Co. and established himself in the manufacture
of shoes, locating in a part of the A. C.
Thompson brick factory on Railroad avenue,
where he remained in business for about four
years. At the expiration of that time, his business
having outgrown his limited quarters, he
removed to the C. S. Pierce building on Montello
street, where he continued for about ten
yeass. Having prospered in his venture, and
his business again having reached that point
where it required more commodious quarters,
he in May, 1906, purchased the Nahum Johnson
shoe factory building, at the corner of Warren
avenue and Dover street, which had previously
been occupied as the Crawford shoe
factory, and here Mr. Reynolds has since continued
in the manufacture of shoes, having met
with a marked success, as a result of his untiring
energy, perseverance and natural business
acumen. He gives employment to about one
hundred and fifty hands, his factory having a
daily capacity of about six hundred pairs of
shoes of the medium-fine grade which retails
for $4 or $5 per pair, known as the "Bion"
shoe ; this shoe enjoys a well merited reputation
for style and quality. The trade extends to
various parts of this country as well as to Cuba
and other foreign countries.
Fraternally Mr. Reynolds is a prominent
member of the Masonic organization, holding
membership in Paul Revere Lodge, ery, Knights Templar
A. F. &
— of Brockton; and he
is also a member of Aleppo Temple, A. A. 0.
N. M. S., of Boston. Socially he is a member
of the Commercial Club, of Brockton, which
numbers among its members representatives of
the leading business and professional circles of
the city. Although a stanch supporter of the
principles of the Republican party and an advocate
of protection to American industries,
Mr. Reynolds, like his father and brothers, has
never cared for nor sought public office, preferring
to give his undividecl attention to his
business. He is a director of the Plymouth
County Trust Company, one of Brockton's
thriving financial institutions, and is also a
member of the Brockton Shoe Manufacturers'
Association. Mr. Reynolds possesses an energetic
nature, and is progressive in the management
of his affairs. Affable and courteous in
manner, he enjoys a large acquaintance in both
business and social circles.
On May 2, 1877, Mr. Reynolds was united
in marriage with Ida Louise Phillips, daughter
of Frank and Susan (Sprague) Phillips, of
North Easton, Mass., and this union has been
blessed with one daughter, Marion Susan Reynolds,
who was graduated from Smith College
with the class of 1906, and resides at home
with her parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds affiliate with the Porter
Congregational Church, of Brockton, and
are liberal in their donations for the support
of the church as well as for charitable and
benevolent objects.
(IX) Luke Webster Reynolds, the youngest
son of the late Charles Turner and Sarah
Stephens (Knowles) Reynolds, was born Feb.
3, 1859, in North Bridgewater (now Brockton),
Mass., at the old homestead on Pleasant street,
and received his early educational training in
the district No. 10 school of his neighborhood,
which he attended iintil he was fifteen years
of age. While not at school, like his elder brothers,
his time was occupied in his father's shoe
factory, where he familiarized himself with the
details of shoemaking, and after leaving school
he continued employed in the factory of his
father until the latter discontinued business.
Mr. Reynolds then entered the employ of hie
brother, Lowell M. Reynolds, who was engaged
in the manufacturing of shoes, with whom he
remained until he had reached his majority. He
then accepted a position in the shoe factory of
his brother. Jay B. Reynolds, and became superintendent
of the latter's shoe manufacturing
plant, in which capacity he continued for some
time, until he became a partner in the firm of
L. M. Reynolds & Co., shoe manufacturers. At