HLRGazette Archives

AS TIME GOES BY

Wood County History

By LOU MALLORY - Chairperson, Wood County Historical Commission

 J.S. McReynolds
Mr. McReynolds was born on August 31st, 1895 in Mineola. When he was two years old, his family moved to Houston. His father was a railroad employee, and as a result, the family moved to several different towns before returning to Mineola. On their return, the family built a home at 312 N. Pacific in 1907.

McReynolds was captain of the first football team at Mineola High School in 1912. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1918. McReynolds went into the hardware business for himself and on April 16th, 1928, he was sworn in as mayor.

During his tenure, plans were drawn up and land was purchased for a new city hall and fire department, with the fire station being built first.

McReynolds served just one term and in 1937, he moved to Iraan, Texas, to join his brother in a Buick-Chevrolet dealership. On August 24th, 1954, McReynolds suffered a severe heart attack and died.

Jonathan Russell
Mr. Russell was born on October 29th, 1883 at Golden, Texas. He graduated from Denton Normal School, now North Texas State University. He passed the Texas bar exam in 1914.

From 1910 through 1914, he served as Wood County Clerk and moved to Mineola in the late 1920s.

Russell was sworn in as mayor on April 15th, 1930. He stayed in office until 1934, serving two terms.

In 1936, he was elected Wood County Judge. He was in that office when he died on July 4th, 1938 of a heart attack while on a family outing.

Miles Caudle
Miles Caudle was born in Alabama on August 18th, 1881. His family moved to Texas when he was very young. When he came to Wood County, he first worked on a farm in Golden. Later, he went into the café business on the corner of South Johnson and Commerce Streets. Later he had cafes in other parts of town.

Caudle was elected mayor in 1942 and served three terms until 1948, when he became ill and did not run for reelection.

In 1950, he was again elected mayor and served almost two more terms when he became ill late in 1953 and died on January 11th, 1954.

Joe Smith
John Joseph (Joe) Smith was born in Cleburne, Texas, on August 22nd, 1893.

In 1927, Mr. Smith and his family moved to Mineola where he was employed by the United Gas Company. Smith's last home in Mineola was a brick house at the corner of North Johnson Street and West McDonald Street where his daughter Mary Margaret still lives today.

Smith served on the Mineola City Council from1960 through 1964. Then, in 1964, he was elected mayor and served in that office until 1978.
In 1980, Smith was again elected mayor and served one term. Mr. Smith died on May 4th, 1985.

Editor's Note: One very notable figure has been left out of these biographical sketches of past mayors of Mineola. That person is Harry Meredith. Due to his impact on the town and the area in general, beyond his one term as mayor, Mr. Meredith's biography will be presented separately in greater detail in this space in the near future.