From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 664 - 666
 
JAMES CONSTANT REYNOLDS, M.D.  It is not always easy to discover and define the 
hidden forces that move a life of ceaseless activity and large professional 
success; little more can be done than to note their manifestation in the career 
of the individual under consideration.  Doctor REYNOLDS has long held 
distinctive prestige in a calling which requires for its basis sound mentality 
and rigid professional training and thorough mastery of technical knowledge 
with the skill to apply the same, without which one cannot hope to rise above 
the mediocre in administering to human ills.
 
Dr. James Constant REYNODS, of Lake Geneva, Walworth county, was born in 
Exeter, Green county, Wisconsin, July 17, 1849.  This town, now no longer on 
the map, was at that time a mining town of probably twelve hundred 
inhabitants.  He is the son of Dr. Benoni O. and Mary J. (SMITH) REYNOLDS, a 
complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
 
The family moved to Elkhorn, this county, in 1854, and have lived in Walworth 
county nearly ever since.  The subject had the advantages of a liberal 
education, having attended the common schools and Racine College about two 
years, also Beloit College about two years.  Desiring to follow in the 
footsteps of his father in a professional way he entered Rush Medical College 
at Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1870.  He went to Canton, South 
Dakota, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for about five 
years, after which he took a course at Bellevue Hospital, New York.  He then 
came to Lake Geneva, Walworth county, in 1876, and this locality has been the 
arena of his endeavors ever since, during which time he has built up a large 
and lucrative practice, taking a position second to none of his compeers in the 
medical profession in southeastern Wisconsin.
 
Doctor REYNOLDS is an active Republican and has been honored by his party with 
various offices.  He served several terms as a member of the General Assembly 
of Wisconsin, and made such a creditable record that he was in 1886 re-elected 
by a big majority.  He there made his influence felt for the general good and 
won the hearty commendation of his constituents and all concerned by his wise 
and judicious course.  During the thirty-eighth Assembly he served as chairman 
of the committee on railroads.  In 1888 he was elected to the State Senate for 
four years, and again distinguished himself as a public servant, discharging 
his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and to the 
eminent satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party alignment.  While 
state senator he was chairman of the committee on town and county organizations 
and he was a member of the joint committee on claims.  He was a delegate to the 
Republican national convention in 1900 that nominated McKinley and Roosevelt, 
and he had the honor of being appointed a member of the committee to notify 
Colonel Roosevelt of his nomination.  Doctor REYNODS was one of two physical 
examiners appointed by the governor to make examination of all the soldiers 
from Wisconsin during the Spanish-American war.  He was a member of the 
battleship committee, a committee of three appointed by the governor of this 
state to select the person to christen the battleship "Wisconsin," and to 
convey the ten-thousand-dollar silver service sent to the ship at the Pacific 
coast and present it on behalf of the state of Wisconsin.
 
Doctor REYNODS is a member of Geneva Lodge No. 44, Free and Accepted Masons, 
also the State Medical Society.  The Doctor was married in May, 1883, to Mrs. 
Carrie S. BLANCHARD, daughter of John A. and Rachael (CALDWELL) CARSON.  This 
union has been graced by the birth of one son, Benoni O. REYNOLDS, who attended 
college at Racine and is now a student in Northwestern University, preparing 
for the ministry.  Doctor REYNOLDS and family are members of the Episcopal 
church.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)