DUTTON J. REYNOLDS. Dutton J. Reynolds, county clerk, is one of the most efficient, faithful and painstaking officers Stone County has ever had, and in discharging the functions of his office, he has shown the utmost courtesy to all with whom he h as come in contact, and has won innumerable friends. He is a product of the Blue Grass State, born in Jackson County September 9, 1861, and the son of Thomas H. and Margaret (Jones) Reynolds.
The father was born in Owsley County, Kentucky, about 1830, of English descent, and of a prominent old Kentucky family. His father, Pleasant Reynolds, was born in North Carolina, in which State the founders of the family settled, when coming to this country. The father of our subject made his home in his native State until 1875, when he moved to Madison County, Arkansas, where he remained until 1880. In that year he came to Stone County and located at Carr, where he now lives and where he is postmaster. During the Civil War he served in the Forty-seventh Kentucky Volunteer Regiment and is a pensioner. While residing in Kentucky he held the office of justice of the peace, and since residing in this county he has been postmaster at Carr for nine years. In political matters he affiliates with the Republican party. Mr. Reynolds is a wealthy man and one of the county’s most worthy citizens. Mrs. Reynolds was born in Kentucky and was the daughter of Dutton Jones. She died in 1869, when about thirty years of age. Four children were the fruits of this union, all but one now living: Dutton J.; John S.; William F., deceased, and Daniel A. The father is a worthy member of the Primitive Baptist Church and his wife held membership in the same. Previous to his marriage to our subject’s mother Mr. Reynolds had been married, and after her death he was married the third time.
Our subject, the eldest of the above mentioned family, spent his early youth in discharging such duties as fall to the lot of the farmer’s boy, and after receiving a practical education in the schools of the district he spent some time in those of Huntsville, Madison County, Arkansas After leaving school he became a teacher, but he also followed that profession while attending the higher schools, in order to pay his way. After teaching a few years in Stone County he took a trip to the State of Washington, also to Oregon, where he engaged in the saw-mill business, remaining there a number of years. He then returned to this county and located at Carr, where he engaged in merchandising with his father whom later he bought out. Afterward he followed the business by himself for some time and then in partnership with his brother, who is now in business in Carr. In 1888 he was elected to the office of assessor of Stone County, held that position two years, and in 1890 was elected to his present position, which he fills in a very satisfactory manner.
When elected clerk, he moved to Galena, where his pleasant home is presided over by his excellent wife, who was formerly Miss Myrtle E. Graves, a native of Livingston County, Missouri Her parents, John D. and Ella (Hossman) Graves, are natives of Missouri, and now reside near Galena. Mr. Graves is a machinist and a farmer by occupation. To our subject and wife has been born one child, a daughter, Eda Lucile. Mr. Reynolds has always been interested in the welfare of the Republican party and is an ardent supporter of its principles. He is very popular in the county, having many warm friends, and was elected to his present position by a large majority. He is self-educated and self-made, and is considered one of the best business men in the county. Socially he is a Mason, a member of Galena Lodge No. 515, and has held the office of secretary of the same. He owns considerable property in Galena and a fine farm in the south part of the county.