La Grande, Union County, Oregon
Pioneer Resident Dies At Age 93
James Edward (Ed) Reynolds, 93, pioneer La Grande resident, died yesterday at a local hospital after a short illness. He had lived here for 80 years.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Daniels Funeral home, under the auspices of La Grande Lodge 41, AF & AM, with the Rev. Louis Samson officiating. Burial will be in City cemetery.
Reynolds was born in Iowa on Dec. 23, 1862 and came to La Grande with his parents at the age of 13, making the trip by train, boat and stage coach. His first home was in what is now known as “old town.”
He attended local schools and the then recently established Blue Mountain University. Always intensely interested in schools and education he was quite proud of having more direct descendants who attended Oregon State College than any other parent.
He was for a short time county superintendent of schools and for many years a member of the La Grande school board. High school band and athletics were given much of his interest and he was primarily responsible for the purchase and early development of the present athletic field.
He was a timer for football and track for many years until failing eyesight made it necessary to discontinue. A life time pass to high school athletic contests was his proud possession.
Most of his life was spent in farming and stock raising, but in early times he drove freight wagon over the Northwest area. He was for may years a member of the Oregon state Fair Board and took particular interest in livestock raising and exhibiting pure bred horses at the county and state fairs.
He was also interested in various enterprises in Grande Ronde valley and for many years was a member of the local Chamber of Commerce and was one of its early day presidents.
Politics always was of interest to Reynolds, a staunch Republican. He voted in 17 presidential elections and was looking forward with interest to the coming one.
He was a member of long standing in the various orders of the Masonic Lodge including the Shrine and Eastern Star. Other organizations were the Union County Pioneer Association and the Historical Society, the Elks and Rotary Club. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include six sons, Ralph E. of Portland, Jay M. of Corvallis, Charles H. and Lee E. of La Grande, Earl C. of Boise and Joe A. of Honolulu; a daughter, Marjorie Christenson Berkeley, California; nine grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
La Grande Evening Observer
Tuesday, February 28, 1956
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