John Whitcome Reynolds Sr., (October 1, 1876 – February 4, 1958) was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 26th Attorney General of Wisconsin from 1927 to 1933.[1][2] He was elected as a Republican.[1]
John W. Reynolds Sr. | |
|---|---|
| 26th Attorney General of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 3, 1927 – January 2, 1933 | |
| Governor | |
| Preceded by | Herman L. Ekern |
| Succeeded by | James E. Finnegan |
| District Attorney of Brown County | |
| In office January 1, 1907 – January 1, 1911 | |
| Preceded by | J. A. Kittell |
| Succeeded by | M. E. Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Whitcome Reynolds October 1, 1876 Jacksonport, Wisconsin |
| Died | February 4, 1958 (aged 81) |
| Resting place | Allouez Catholic Cemetery And Chapel Mausoleum Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
|
| Children |
|
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Charles Reynolds (uncle) |
Biography
Reynolds was born in Jacksonport, in Door County, Wisconsin, the son of Jennie (Foley) and Thomas Reynolds.[3] He graduated from the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin Law School. Reynolds was admitted to the bar in 1902. After becoming a lawyer, he worked in Ashland, Wisconsin, for a short time before setting up a practice in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which remained his home for the rest of his life. Reynolds served as district attorney for Brown County from 1906 to 1910. He was a delegate to the 1924 Republican National Convention, supporting Senator Robert M. La Follette. When La Follette ran for President of the United States as a Progressive in the general election that year, Reynolds was one of thirteen electors who voted for him.[4][5]
Reynolds was elected attorney general in November 1926, and won re-election in 1928 and 1930.[6]
His son John W. Reynolds Jr. also served as Attorney General and was elected Governor of Wisconsin.[7]
Electoral history
Wisconsin attorney general (1926, 1928, 1930)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election, September 7, 1926 | |||||
| Republican | John W. Reynolds | 201,342 | 49.86% | ||
| Republican | George M. Sheldon | 96,697 | 23.94% | ||
| Republican | Albert T. Twesme | 77,814 | 19.27% | ||
| Democratic | David Gardner Jr. | 15,702 | 3.89% | ||
| Socialist | Ben W. Reynolds | 11,042 | 2.73% | ||
| Prohibition | Burton S. Hawley | 1,235 | 0.31% | ||
| Total votes | '403,832' | '100.0%' | |||
| General Election, November 2, 1926 | |||||
| Republican | John W. Reynolds | 389,519 | 85.53% | ||
| Socialist | Ben W. Reynolds | 35,066 | 7.70% | ||
| Independent Democrat | David Gardner Jr. | 18,888 | 4.15% | ||
| Prohibition | Burton S. Hawley | 11,931 | 2.62% | ||
| Total votes | '455,404' | '100.0%' | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election, September 4, 1928 | |||||
| Republican | John W. Reynolds (incumbent) | 221,540 | 46.31% | ||
| Republican | Kelley | 118,746 | 24.82% | ||
| Republican | George M. Sheldon | 85,254 | 17.82% | ||
| Democratic | John J. Boyle | 20,486 | 4.28% | ||
| Democratic | Finnegan | 19,869 | 4.15% | ||
| Socialist | George Mensing | 11,668 | 2.44% | ||
| Prohibition | Burton S. Hawley | 831 | 0.17% | ||
| Total votes | '478,394' | '100.0%' | |||
| General Election, November 6, 1928 | |||||
| Republican | John W. Reynolds (incumbent) | 589,730 | 68.29% | -17.25% | |
| Democratic | John J. Boyle | 234,779 | 26.78% | +22.63% | |
| Socialist | George Mensing | 36,028 | 4.11% | -3.59% | |
| Prohibition | Burton S. Hawley | 7,244 | 0.83% | -1.79% | |
| Total votes | '876,781' | '100.0%' | +92.53% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 1930 | |||||
| Republican | John W. Reynolds (incumbent) | 258,469 | 43.35% | ||
| Republican | Michael Eberlein | 175,147 | 29.37% | ||
| Republican | Alvin C. Reis | 133,739 | 22.43% | ||
| Democratic | John J. Boyle | 16,138 | 2.71% | ||
| Socialist | Glenn P. Turner | 11,549 | 1.94% | ||
| Prohibition | Burton S. Hawley | 1,218 | 0.20% | ||
| General Election, November 4, 1930 | |||||
| Republican | John W. Reynolds (incumbent) | 375,616 | 68.10% | -0.19% | |
| Democratic | John J. Boyle | 125,315 | 22.72% | -4.06% | |
| Socialist | Glenn P. Turner | 35,169 | 6.38% | +2.27% | |
| Prohibition | Burton S. Hawley | 12,636 | 2.29% | +1.46% | |
| Communist | William Martilla | 2,827 | 0.51% | ||
| Total votes | '551,563' | '100.0%' | -37.09% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
Wisconsin Supreme Court (1930, 1931)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 1, 1930 | |||||
| Independent | Chester A. Fowler (incumbent) | 198,572 | 41.39% | ||
| Independent | John W. Reynolds Sr. | 184,317 | 38.42% | ||
| Independent | Ray J. Cannon | 96,908 | 20.20% | ||
| Scattering | 433 | 0.09% | |||
| Total votes | '480,230' | '100.0%' | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 7, 1931 | |||||
| Independent | Chester A. Fowler (incumbent) | 254,534 | 46.87% | +5.52% | |
| Independent | John W. Reynolds Sr. | 230,902 | 42.52% | +4.14% | |
| Independent | George L. Mensing | 57,590 | 10.61% | ||
| Total votes | '543,026' | '100.0%' | +13.08% | ||