Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.

************************************************

File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Gen. J. S. REYNOLDS, lawyer, Chicago, formerly of New Lenox Twp.; was born Dec. 3, 1839, in 
New Lenox Twp., Will Co., IL, where his parents, Isaac N. and his wife, still reside; the 
son, after arriving at the age of 17, went to Chicago, and attended the public schools, 
graduating from the high school in 1861. On the breaking out of the war, he presided over 
a series of war mass-meetings of young men; he soon enlisted, and began recruiting, the 
battalion called Yates' Sharpshooters; he was in active service nearly four years, and made 
a gallant record; he was promoted five times by commissions from the Governor of Illinois, 
and twice by commission from President Lincoln; he took part in seventeen battles and many 
skirmishes, was thrice wounded, and had his sword shot from his hand at Resaca; he commanded 
the 64th I. V. I., which he had once helped to recruit under the name of Yates' Sharpshooters, 
during its march with Gen. Sherman from Atlanta to the sea; at the recommendation of his 
superior officers, he was promoted to Brigadier General, near the close of the war. After 
leaving the army, in 1865, he began the study of law in Chicago, graduated from the law 
department of the Chicago University, was admitted to the bar in 1866, and began the 
practice of law in Chicago, at first with a partner; he is now engaged in the practice 
of admiralty alone in the city of Chicago. In 1867, he was elected a member of the 
Illinois Legislature, from Chicago, and re-elected in 1869, where he served with honor; 
he also served four years on the Chicago Board of Education; in 1872, he was elected to 
represent the First District in the Illinois State Senate, after which he was appointed, 
by the Governor, a commissioner from Illinois to the Exposition at Vienna; in May, 1873, 
he sailed abroad, and his travels extended throughout most of the countries of Europe 
and into Asia Minor; in 1875, he became a member of the Board of Commissioners to locate 
the State Institution for the Education of Feeble-minded Children; in 1875, he was elected 
Senior Vice Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. Jan. 31, 1877, he was 
married to Mattie A. CAREY, of Chicago, daughter of George W. CAREY, Esq.; has one child 
- born Jan. 23, 1878, named Joseph S., Jr.