By Beverly Belcher Woody
The mountains of Patrick County have long sent forth sons and daughters whose lives have reached far beyond their birthplace. One such individual was Dr. Powell Benton Reynolds, a native son whose career in education, ministry, and public service touched thousands and brought distinction to both West Virginia and his Virginia home.
Powell Benton Reynolds was born in Patrick County, Virginia, on January 9, 1841, the son of James B. Reynolds and Roxana Shelor Reynolds. Like many young men of his generation, his early adulthood was shaped by the Civil War. In 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army, first serving in Company D, Fifth Kentucky Infantry, and later in Company K, Fiftieth Virginia Infantry. He was captured in the autumn of 1864 and imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland, one of the war’s largest prison camps. He was paroled on April 9, 1865; the very day General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
After the war, Reynolds turned his attention to education and self-improvement. He attended Richmond College (now the University of Richmond) from 1865 to 1870, preparing for a lifetime devoted to learning and teaching.
His early career included leadership positions in higher education. From 1872 to 1884, he served as president of Shelton College in St. Albans, West Virginia. He then became president of Buckner College in Arkansas from 1884 to 1885.
In 1885, Dr. Reynolds began the work for which he would be most widely remembered when he joined the faculty of West Virginia University. Over the next three decades, he became one of the institution’s most respected and beloved educators. He served in a variety of roles, including professor of English literature, metaphysics, philosophy, political science, and later as university chaplain. From 1893 to 1895, he served as acting president of the university.
Students across the state knew him affectionately as “Petie,” and he was remembered for his gentle, patient, and companionable nature. Former students, scattered throughout the United States, spoke of his lasting influence on their lives.
His contributions were recognized through honorary degrees, including a Master of Arts from West Virginia University in 1887 and a Doctor of Divinity from Richmond College in 1890. In addition to his academic duties, he was an ordained Baptist minister and for many years carried on active ministerial work alongside his teaching.
Dr. Reynolds also participated in public life. Independent in his political thinking, he generally supported Democratic principles but was not strictly bound to party candidates. In 1882, he was the candidate of the Prohibition Party for his district. Later, he served as secretary of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission for 1911–1912.
Though much of his life was spent in academic surroundings, he remained closely connected to his community and church. He counted hundreds among his friends and neighbors and was active for many years in the Baptist church. His passing was mourned not only locally, but throughout the state and nation.
Dr. Reynolds died at his home in Morgantown on December 29, 1914, at the age of 73. He had been in declining health since being overcome by heat the previous summer, and his final illness was attributed to uremic poisoning. During his last days, his children gathered at his bedside, and he passed peacefully.
Dr. Reynolds married twice. His first wife was Virginia Henrietta Woolwine of Patrick County, whom he married on January 30, 1868. Virginia was born on March 7, 1844, to Thomas Woolwine, postmaster of Rock Castle, and Sarah “Sally” Adams. Her paternal grandparents were John Woolwine and Margaret Haymaker of Montgomery County, Virginia, while her maternal grandparents were Isaac C. Adams and Exoney Ingram of the northern district of Patrick County. Virginia’s brother was Captain Rufus Woolwine of the 51st Virginia Infantry, who later served as Sheriff of Patrick County.
Powell and Virginia had three children: Wayland Fuller Reynolds (1869–1939), Maybelle Fuller Reynolds Glasscock (1870–1942), and Horace Bushnell Reynolds (1872–1876). Virginia died on January 12, 1873, shortly after the birth of Horace.
Dr. Reynolds’s second wife, Marietta Love Reynolds of Putnam County, West Virginia, also survived him. Seven children were born to this marriage, with two living at the time of his death: Mrs. L. D. (Ethel) Arnett of Morgantown and Boyce W. Reynolds of Chicago.
Dr. Reynolds was also survived by one brother and three sisters who remained in Patrick County, a reminder that despite his wide influence, his roots in the Blue Ridge were never far removed.
For nearly thirty years at West Virginia University, and for many years before in other institutions, Dr. Powell Benton Reynolds shaped young minds and left a lasting impression on thousands of lives. His story stands as another example of how the values of faith, education, perseverance, and service, carried from the hills of Patrick County, could influence communities far beyond its borders.
Today, his life remains a point of pride for Patrick County — a testament to the enduring legacy of its people and the quiet strength of a mountain upbringing.
Information on Dr. Powell Benton Reynolds was found in Patrick County birth, marriage, death, and census records, as well as in The Daily Telegram (Clarksburg, West Virginia), Wednesday, December 30, 1914, page 5; The Enterprise, January 4, 1915; The Baltimore Sun, January 3, 1915; and The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), December 30, 1914, page 4.
For questions, comments, or story ideas, contact Woody at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or 276-692-9626.
