From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 666 - 668
 
BENONI O. REYNOLDS.  The name of Dr. Benoni O. REYNOLDS for many decades was 
one of the best known in Walworth county, where he was esteemed by all classes 
and where so much of his useful and honored life was spent.  He was born in 
Semponius township, Cayuga county, New York, July 26, 1824.  He was the son of 
John and Nancy (HAY) RAYENOLDS and the grandson of Benoni REYNOLDS, who was 
born in Wales, from which country he came to America in colonial days and took 
part in the war for independence, as a private in the Thirteenth Regiment of 
Albany County Militia, and also served in the Sixth Regiment of Dutchess County 
Militia under Colonel Graham of New York.  For many years he lived at 
Marcellus, that state, and his death occurred when he had nearly attained the 
century milestone.  Nancy (HAY) REYNOLDS was the daughter of a Revolutionary 
soldier, who came to this country from Germany, and he, too, lived to a ripe 
old age.
 
When thirteen years of age Dr. Benoni O. REYNOLDS was bound out to learn a 
trade, and for a time he worked in a cooper shop, but, not liking the work, he 
ran away and began life for himself.  After two years' experience teaching 
school he began the study of medicine, later taking the course at Rush Medical 
College, Chicago, and there was graduated in 1851, and about ten years later he 
was graduated from the Ophthalmic College of New York.  He practiced for some 
time at Huntsville, Ohio, then went to Wisconsin and began practicing in and 
near Racine in 1848.  He enlisted for service in the Mexican war, but was not 
called to the front.  In 1854 he located in Elkhorn and made his home in this 
county until his death.  He took up his residence in Lake Geneva in 1866 and 
here he soon acquired an extensive practice.  In 1861 he was commissioned 
surgeon of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry and he served with distinction in that 
capacity until the close of the war, in 1865.  The estimate of his ability as a 
surgeon in the army is shown by the following order of Brig.-Gen. J. R. West, 
chief of the cavalry division: "The operating staff will consist of Surgeon B. 
O. REYNOLDS, of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, and Surgeon W. W. BAILEY, of the 
First Missouri Cavalry, and no operation shall be performed without their 
sanction and direction, and in all doubtful cases the board of operating 
surgeons shall consult together and a majority shall decide upon the expediency 
and character of the operation."  In 1863 Doctor REYNOLDS was appointed medical 
director on the staff of General Ewing.  While in southwest Missouri in 1862 he 
was taken prisoner by Colonel Coffee's command and after being held ten days 
made his escape through the Confederate lines on a night when Coffee's camp was 
attacked by Union cavalry.  At the battle of Prairie Grove, in the fall of 
1862, his skill as a surgeon was put to the test.  General John C. Black was so 
badly wounded that an eye witness said he looked as if there was hardly enough 
left of him to call for the services of an undertaker, but Surgeon REYNOLDS 
took charge of him, and out of a mass of gaping wounds and splintered bones 
reconstructed a man who later was of fine personal appearance.
 
Doctor REYNOLDS was married on March 30, 1848, to Mary J. SMITH, of Trumbull 
county, Ohio, the daughter of Dr. John and Sarah (BUTTLES) SMITH.  In 1861 she 
was graduated from the Women's Medical College and during the war she enjoyed 
an extensive practice while her husband was away in the army.  She is a woman 
of unusual attainments and force of personality.  To the Doctor and wife two 
children were born, James C., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and 
Willis S., who was graduated from the Chicago Medical College, and who is now 
cashier of a bank at Hurley, Wisconsin.
 
Dr. B. O. REYNOLDS died at his home in Lake Geneva, January 19, 1911, in the 
eighty-seventh year of his age.  He was a member of McPherson Post of the Grand 
Army of the Republic and a companion of the Loyal Legion.  He always took an 
abiding interest in public affairs, and was an active Republican and well-known 
in state and county politics.  He once represented his home district in the 
Assembly and was also in the State Senate for several terms, and for eight 
years he was a member of the state board of health.  As a public servant he 
performed his duties in an able, conscientious and commendable manner, winning 
the hearty approval of all concerned irrespective of party alignment.  He was a 
member of the national board of health, of the State Medical  Association, and 
of the National Medical Association.  He was also prominent in the Grand Army 
of the Republic.  As a physician he had few equals and no  superiors in this 
part of the state.  Mrs. Dr. REYNOLDS is still living at Lake Geneva, now 
eighty-eight years of age.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)