Franklin Reynolds
The family name of Reynolds has been a part of Irwin history since before the turn of the century. The Franklin-Alta Reynolds family moved from the Berry farm, one and a half miles north of Irwin, March, 1903 to the Irwin Hotel which they built on Main Street at that time. It had twelve bedrooms, large dining room, living room, kitchen and office. In 1917 they built and moved into the home that has recently been occupied by Evelyn Will and then Kent Richards.
Mrs. Reynolds passed away November 14, 1932, the day after Emma Selby, so a double funeral was held. Mrs. Selby's husband Lloyd operated the first Irwin telephone exchange in their home. Franklin passed away November 5, 1938 and all his town property was divided among his heirs, Joe and Ethel getting the house and 13 lots, Homer got the hotel and Glen got the Town Hall or Opera House which was located where Farmer's Elevator Feed Store is now located.
Joe, a son, was born June 15, 1878 and married Lottie Humphreys. After working in various grain elevators in Iowa, he operated Tennant Bank, Shelby Bank and then came to Irwin where he built the Farmers Saving Bank and the house now occupied by Mrs. Theodore Axland. After selling the bank and house, he worked in the Jefferson bank and in 1929 was appointed bank examiner. His sons were Dwight, Wayne, Dale, Eugene and then Darrel by his second marriage. Joe passed away August 16, 1954.
Homer C. was born July 30, 1880 and married Julia Heglin June 29, 1910. He operated grain elevators and then restaurants in Panora and Red Oak and came to Irwin to live in hotel when his father passed away and started a Sandwich Shop. He remodeled the hotel into three, three room apartments upstairs and two units for business downstairs. Later Homer worked as a carpenter for himself and also with George Richards. In his later years he had a Paint and Gift Shop, passing away May 16, 1966. Julia passed away September 4, 1965. They had one child, Gerald.
Ethel Mary was born November 17, 1882 and married Carl Mickelson December 25, 1906. They lived on their farm in Douglas Township and retired to his parents' home in Irwin. Their children were Normal, Ralph (deceased), and Howard. Ethel passed away March 24, 1972 after living in Manning Plaza.
Glen was born January 29, 1885. He operated the restaurant for his father for 14 years. He married Ilo Gail Selby, February 10, 1915. They built the house where Russell Paulsen lived in 1916 and later sold it to Charley Johnson. In 1917 they put buildings on an 80 acre farm, one mile west of Irwin, using the rural schoolhouse to make the home and lived there until 1921. Returning to Irwin they lived in Methodist Parsonage, then located north of the Town Hall and Glen bought a Meat Market and Grocery Store (east side of street). He was appointed Postmaster in 1921 and served until 1934. Dick Howell operated the store until it was sold to Henry Radden. After the postmaster job Glen and Ilo moved to the Dunlap farm north of Irwin and in 1938 moved back to Irwin to run the Drug Store which they sold to Walter Barten in 1946. The family then moved to California and Glen worked in a large restaurant for 17 1/2 years. Again they returned to Irwin to retire. His wife and a son are deceased. Another son Keith lives in Sacramento, California. Glen now lived in the Baptist Memorial Home in Harlan and at 95 years is young in body, mind and spirit.