Camden People - Charles A. Reynolds

CHARLES AUGUSTUS REYNOLDS was a highly successful businessman in Camden, who also, prior to his untimely death at the age of 54 in 1924, was very involved in all aspects of Camden's civic affairs. He was co-founder and president of The Keystone Leather Company, one of Camden's largest employers in its day, a co-founder and first president of the the Merchants' Trust Company bank, president of the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital from 1908 until his passing, and had been vice-president of the Camden Young Men's Christian Association from 1913 when he died.

In January of 1909 Charles A. Reynolds incorporated the Haddon Heights Park Company with George W. Jessup and his son to deal in real estate and as builders and contractors. In March of 1909 he incorporated the Haddon Highlands Company, again with George W. Jessup and his son to deal in real estate.

In 1910 Charles A. Reynolds and family lived at 711 Cooper Street in Camden

Charles A. Reynolds belonged to Trimble Lodge No. 117, Free and Accepted Masons and other local Masonic groups, the Camden County Historical Society and also had belonged to the Camden Club and other business and social organizations. He was a member and a trustee of the First Baptist Church in Camden, and superintendent of the Sunday School for ten years.

In 1922 Mr. Reynolds founded the C. A. Reynolds Leather Company, located on Pine Street in Camden. He was engaged in business there when taken by death on June 23, 1924. In 1926 the C.A. Reynolds Leather Company plant was acquired by Frederick Himmelein.

From
South Jersey: A History 1624-1924

CHARLES AUGUSTUS REYNOLDS was born at Portsmouth, Virginia May 18, 1870, the son of George C. Washington and Augusta Ann Reynolds. When he was eleven years of age his family moved to Philadelphia. His first work was in a shoe store in that city, and it was here that he became interested in the shoe and leather business which was to occupy him for the remainder of his life. Later he was employed by Burk Brothers, Philadelphia tanners; here he remained for five years, rising in their employ to the position of plant superintendent.

In 1894, in company with Herman Buchborn, he began independent business as a tanner under the firm name of Buchborn and Reynolds. Soon after beginning this business, the partners moved to Camden, New Jersey, taking possession of an old factory at Sixteenth and Mickle streets. In 1895, the company was reorganized as The Keystone Leather Company, and a period of expansion and prosperity began. Of this company Mr. Reynolds was president until 1922, when he resigned and founded the C. A. Reynolds Leather Company, located on Pine Street, Camden. Here he conducted business until his death on June 23, 1924. Mr. Reynolds< was one of the founders of the Merchants' Trust Company and its first president. He was president of the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital from 1908 to the time of his death, and vice-president of the Camden Young Men's Christian Association from 1913. He belonged to Trimble Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Camden; was a thirty-second degree Mason, being a member of Excelsior Consistory, of Camden: and the Knights Templar; he also was a member of Crescent Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; he belonged also to the Union League and the Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia, the Camden Club and Tavistock Country Club. He was a member and a trustee of the First Baptist Church, and superintendent of the Sunday School for ten years.

Charles A. Reynolds was married in Philadelphia, on June 3, 1891, to Emma Elizabeth Wagner, born in Philadelphia, the daughter of Theodore and Katherine Wagner. To this couple were born four children: 1. Elizabeth Louise, now Mrs. E. W. G. Boogher of Merchantville, New Jersey. 2. Emma Katherine, who died in childhood. 3. George Washington, who married Jane Elizabeth Havey, and lives in Cynwyd, Pennsylvania: he is connected with the Keystone Leather Company. 4. Gertrude Christine.

Philadelphia Inquirer - January 28, 1908


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William Leonard Hurley - Charles H. Ellis - Charles V.D. Joline - Edmund E. Read Harry C. Kramer - Howard Carrow - Philander Knox - James H. Davidson Johm T. Dorrance - E.G.C. Bleakly - David A. Henderson - Samuel W. Sparks Henry C. Loudenslager - Francis Howell - Walter Wood - Elmer E. Long George W. Jessup - Joseph Gaskill - Volney G. Bennett - Wilbur F. Rose Alexander C. Wood - George A. Frey - Charles A. Reynolds - E.B. Leaming Heulings Lippincott - Charles K. Haddon - Fithian S. Simmons - J.B. Van Sciver David Jester - Frank B. Sitley - Alpheus McCracken - Thomas S. Nekervis DeCourcy May - Isaac Ferris - Lionel C. Simpson - John M. Kelly G. George Browning - Watson Depuy - John C. Danenhower - John B. McFeeley Elias Davis - Anthony Kobus - Captain John B. Adams