William H. Reynolds, far.; P. O. Oakland; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 29, 1837, where he was brought up on a farm until about 18 years of age, when he emigrated to Clark Co., Ill., and located for one year; thence to Coles Co., where he hired as farm laborer for two years, when he rented land and farmed three years. He enlisted July 25, 1861, in Col. Oglesby’s regiment-the 8th I. V. I. going in camp at Cairo, where he remained about two months, during which time he was engaged in reconnoitering expeditions in Missouri; he then joined the Army of the West under Gen. Grant, and was in many severe battles, among which were Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, siege and capture of Vicksburg, after which he went with the army South to New Orleans, and went into winter quarters, remaining until the spring of 1865, when they went to Mobile, which place they captured after remaining there two months; went to Shreveport, La., then to Marshall, Tex., where he received a furlough, and while at home was mustered out of service by special order from the War Department April 20, 1866. Mr. Reynolds was in the Union Army nearly five years, and while he had many narrow escapes; was wounded only once, while making a charge at Raymond, Miss., having the flesh torn from one of his fingers. At the battle of Shiloh, he received a bullet through his pants, one through his blouse, and one struck the stock of his gun; his comrades at either side were killed; at the battle of Holly Springs, he was made prisoner, but was released by an attack of the Union army within about two hours; he first enlisted for three years, and after receiving his discharge, he re-enlisted as veteran, and served until 1866. After receiving his discharge, he returned to Coles Co., where he engaged in farming until 1872, when went to Kansas and located 160 acres of land, upon which he lived until 1876, when he returned to Coles Co., and located upon his present place, where he has since lived; his home farm contains 162 acres, mostly prairie land. He married in 1855 to Mary E. Harvey; she died in February, 1860; he married for his second wife Hester Tuttle, in 1863; she died in 1867, leaving one child-Minnie B.; his marriage with Margaret E. Collins was celebrated May 23, 1869; they have four children by this union, viz., Maynard Oscar, Martha J., Ida May, John W. Mrs. Reynolds was born March 6, 1845; she was the daughter of Watson Collins, one of the early pioneers of Coles Co., and whose biography appears in this work.
