Samuel F. Reynolds

Samuel F. Reynolds (died 1877) was a Los Angeles city attorney and a judge in 19th century California. He was also active in the International Order of Odd Fellows.

Reynolds was admitted as a lawyer before the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in September 1850^[1] and before the California Supreme Court in February 1856.^[2]

He was elected to the board of directors of the Los Angeles Library Association in July 1859,^[3] and in 1861 he became Los Angeles city attorney, a position he held for two years.^[4][5]

In 1863 Reynolds was judge of the 4th District Court at a salary of $5,000 a year for a period of six years and then resume private practice.^[6][7] In 1870-71 he was a member of a committee of the Odd Fellows lodge that was tasked with the duty of researching and recommending whether an Odd Fellows College and Home should be established.^[8][9]

Reynolds died on February 12, 1877, at the age of 68 after an attack of apoplexy.^[7] He was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in San Francisco. Pallbearers included John Currey, past chief justice of California.^[10]

His widow, Rachel Ann, died on October 10, 1901, at the age of 81. She was the mother of Charles F. and Mary E. Reynolds and Leonard and Benjamin A. Reynolds.^[11]

References

1. "U.S. District Court," Los Angeles Star, September 15, 1850
2. "The Courts," Sacramento Daily Union, February 9, 1856
3. "Los Angeles Library Association," Los Angeles Star, July 23. 1859
4. "Death of an Irish Exile," Sacramento Daily Union, January 16, 1861
5. Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials 1850–1938, Municipal Reference Library, March 1938, reprinted 1946
6. "The State Government," Sacramento Daily Union, January 1, 1863
7. "Death of Judge Reynolds," Daily Alta California, February 13, 1877
8. "Odd Fellows' College and Home," Daily Alta California, July 12, 1870
9. "Odd Fellows' College and Home," Sacramento Daily Union, October 4, 1871
10. "Funeral of Judge Reynolds," Daily Alta California, February 15, 1877
11. "Births — Marriages — Deaths," San Francisco Call, October 12, 1901, page 13