Samuel Davis McReynolds, elected in 1922 to the lower house of congress from the third congressional district of Tennessee, also for twenty years judge of the criminal court in Chattanooga, was born in Pikeville, Tennessee, April 16, 1872, and is a son of Isaac S. and Addie (Davis) McReynolds. The father was born in Bledsoe county, Tennessee, in September, 1845, and was a son of Samuel McReynolds, also a native of Bledsoe county, where he owned a large plantation. His son, Isaac S., was given good educational opportunities and attended the Burritt College at Spencer, Tennessee. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and was a very successful man. His wife, Addie Davis McReynolds, was born in Meigs county, Tennessee, in September, 1847, and is a daughter of Robert R. Davis, one of the early settlers of that county, who was there a farmer and slaveholder. Isaac S. McReynolds passed away in July, 1915, and is survived by his widow, who makes her home at Pikeville. They were the parents of three children: T. V., who is a hardware merchant and farmer, living at Pikeville; Samuel D., of this review; and Bertie Lew, who married W. J. Stamper, a merchant of Vanceburg, Kentucky. The parents were consistent members of the Baptist church and Isaac S. McReynolds was an early Mason. He gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and for several years filled the office of justice of the peace.
In the acquirement of his education Samuel D. McReynolds attended Peoples College at Pikeville and afterward became a student in Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee. He then entered the law office of his cousin, the Hon. J. B. Frazier, at Chattanooga, for the study of law and was admitted to the bar in April, 1893. He then began practice in Pikeville, but in 1895 removed to Chattanooga, where he has since made his home. He was assistant attorney-general of the old sixth district in 1894 and in 1895 he entered upon the private practice of law as a partner of John H. Cantrell of Chattanooga, with whom he was associated for eight years. He was then appointed to the position of judge of the criminal court in April, 1903, by Senator J. B. Frazier, and from that time until the latter part of January, 1923, he remained upon the bench. His district covered Hamilton county, although when he took office he had jurisdiction over four counties. With the increasing population, however, it has been necessary to divide the district. Twice he was elected to the bench without opposition.
In 1922 Judge McReynolds became a candidate on the democratic ticket for representative in congress from the third district of the state, comprised of the counties of Bledsoe, Bradley, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren, and White. At the regular election on November 7, 1922, he defeated his republican opponent, R. L. Burnett, by a majority of close to eight thousand votes.
In March, 1910, occurred the marriage of Judge McReynolds and Miss Mary Davenport, who was born in Hamilton county, Tennessee, a daughter of R. B. Davenport, a retired wholesale merchant now interested in the hosiery mills. Judge and Mrs. McReynolds have one child, Margaret Henriette. The parents are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Mrs. McReynolds has served as president of the General A. P. Stewart Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. She was educated in the schools of Chattanooga and in the Ward School at Nashville and is a lady of liberal culture and innate refinement. Judge McReynolds is identified with the Masonic fraternity, having become a Knights Templar Mason and is now an active worker in the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Knights of Pythias, in which he is a past chancellor, and he is connected with the Knights of Khorassan, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. As mentioned before, Judge McReynolds has always given his allegiance to the democratic party, but he has devoted the greater part of his time and efforts to his responsible position upon the bench. However, he is the owner of an excellent farm, which returns to him a gratifying annual income. His entire course is one which reflects credit and honor upon the judicial history of the state and the worth of his work is widely acknowledged and highly appreciated by the general public.
Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 2 -- transcribed by, Amanda Jowers
