All About “Bony” Reynolds

By: Karen Zach

Often, I find a subject for an article in a most unusual way as with Napoleon Bonaparte Reynolds. I am on a neat Facebook page (Military History of Putnam County, Indiana) ran by Jordan Vaughn and mainly it is about Putnam County but other military-oriented items often pop-up and this one could have been either, I guess as he asked, “Who has an ancestor that fought in the Napoleonic Wars?” Boy, did I feel stupid as I had only vaguely heard that term.

Certainly, I didn’t have an ancestor in the series of wars but as always, the first thing I do when researching for anyone or anything was doing a search on the Montgomery County INGenWeb page. That’s when I met NBR, or “Uncle Bony” as he was known to almost everyone in a five or so county radius. Napoleon Bonaparte Reynolds was born to William Reynolds and Mary Miller near Lexington, Kentucky on 23 March 1828. In early 1830, William purchased property about 150 acres on Indian Creek and where the creek turned to the west, then north he went to work building his grist mill with few tools and a great deal of hard work, this all while living with his sister in their home.

He then returned to Kentucky for his family, Bony at this time being two, as well as Bony’s sister Katherine and brothers, Andrew; Jesse and William. The family had arrived along with his aunt and uncle, Jonathan and Rebecca Reynolds Rice) plus James and Charles Peyton families who had married Reynolds’ sisters, as well. (Reynolds migrated to area in 1830 by Bessie Armstrong, Montgomery Magazine, Feb 1979 p 19 and prepared for the Montgomery Co GenWeb page by Scott Busenbark). Sadly, Bony’s father died when he was quite young and he and his brothers and sisters (now including Elizabeth, Hannah and Eliza) were left in the care of the uncle, Jonathan Rice. Their mother Mary passed at an old age on Halloween of 1872.

At about 20, Bony lost one of his eyes when a piece of guncap struck it. Never let it bother him, though. His carpentry work was astounding, few matching his skills. Forever after, he could put a bullet in the middle of the bullseye at any target competition and “wield the broad ax better than any two-eyed fellow.” An amazing violinist, he enjoyed entertaining. At any time, he would drop his work and aide a neighbor. Much proof to his own honesty and thinking such of others.

At age 23, Napoleon married Malinda Crisler in Montgomery County and they would care for her parents in their old age for several years. Bony and Malinda would remain married for 59 years until her death. They parented five children, Susan Elizabeth, Mary Jane, John William, George Wesley and David Allen.

His Waveland Independent (14 Feb 1908) obituary noted that many monuments were peppered around the area in his memory including several buildings at Deers Mill (flour, woolen and saw mills that sadly, burned in 1887) but Freedom Church, as well as numerous barns and dwellings in Putnam, Vigo, Parke, Fountain and Montgomery County.

Bony and Malinda’s first child, Susan Elizabeth, was born six days before Christmas in 1849 and sadly passed away 24 Feb 1859. She is buried in the Crisler Cemetery.

Their second child and daughter, Mary Jane was born on Halloween day in 1853, Brown Township, of course. She married Abraham Burk and they had no children. She was but 55 at her death, an active member of Freedom Baptist Church for 36 years of that.

First son was John William born 13 August 1859 took his father’s main career, carpentry and married Dorinda Sprague. They were married about 50 years, having children: Bessie, Bertha, George, Elva, Jesse, another son as well as Clara who died young.

Son David Allen (1865-1932) married Della Brewer and as far as I know had two daughters, Ruth and Marie. He was an engineer for 30 years on the PA Railroad.

Bony and Malinda’s other son, George Wesley was born 4 Nov 1861, farmed with his father, but sadly didn’t live long enough to really start a life, passing away 9 July 1885. He is buried in Freedom cemetery as are Bony and Malinda (cemetery photo picture on FindAGrave by Nancy Pickel – thanks so much)

It seems Bony and Malinda had a wonderful life, overall, with mainly joys and love but of course as with any family, some sorrows as well. With many talents, he seemed to be a quiet, sweet, smart man! Oh, and I didn’t find anyone on the GenWeb page who was in the Napoleonic wars but sure glad Napoleon Bonaparte Reynolds popped up – he was quite the joy to research and share with you!!!

-Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County. You can reach her at [email protected].