"Portrait and biographical album of Coles County, Illinois"
  
C. REYNOLDS, Chief Train Dispatcher of the I. & St. L. R. R., and stationed at Mattoon since 1881, is a fine illustration of a gentleman who has risen to a responsible position through his own efforts, and whose fidelity to duty has gained him the good-will of the great corporation by which he is employed, as well as the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens.
Mr. Reynolds was born in Jennings County, Ind., May 1, 1859, and is the son of Curtis T. and Drusilla F. (Ray) Reynolds, natives of the same State. His father, early in life, was occupied with farming pursuits, but for the last thirty-three years has been engaged in construction work on railroads as foreman. The paternal grandfather of our subject, William L. Reynolds by name, a native of the Green Mountain State, was reared to agricultural pursuits, and after reaching his majority emigrated to Indiana, being among the pioneer settlers of the State, where he married and reared a family of children, among them being Curtis, the father of our subject.
Curtis T. Reynolds was reared to manhood in Jefferson County, Ind., where he was married to the mother of our subject, and they became the parents of four children, three now living, viz., William L., Byford E., and Charles C. of our sketch. The eldest son is engaged in railroading in Indiana, and Byford is foreman of construction on the T., St. L. & K. C. R. R., in the same State.
Our subject attended school at Shelbyville, Ind., until thirteen years of age, where he learned telegraphy, which he followed one year in that place, and in the meantime employed his leisure hours with his studies at the public school, then after spending a few months on a farm he went to Indianapolis, Ind., where he was engaged as clerk at a book and news stand, and then secured a position as night operator at the same place, on the I. & St. L. R. R., which position he held for two years. Mr. Reynolds came to Mattoon in 1881, and was engaged for six months as telegraph operator. He then went to Indianapolis, where he was similarly occupied for six months, and then transferred back to Mattoon as Assistant Train Dispatcher. A year later he was promoted to the position which he now holds. While a resident of Mattoon, Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Agnes A. Henderson, a native of Elora, Ontario, Canada, and daughter of John and Jeanette (Wilkinson) Henderson, natives of Scotland, who emigrated to Canada in about 1850. Their family included two children only, Mrs. Reynolds and her brother Morris. Mr. and Mrs. R. have two children Ray W. and Alice. Both are members of the Presbyterian Church, and number among their warmest friends the cultivated people of Mattoon. Their residence is pleasantly located at the intersection of Wabash and Fifth streets. Mr. Reynolds votes the Republican ticket, and socially, is connected with the Knights of Pythias.
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