Biography - Samuel Renner
SAMUEL RENNER. How blessed and sweet is the rest that follows the labor
of a long day spent in adjusting the work and management of one's duties, no
matter in what calling. Even so is the rest in the evening of life that a
man feels and enjoys after a career of which each day was a repetition of
its predecessor in hard manual labor, and the worry of daily existence. This
rest is now enjoyed by the gentleman who is the subject of this little
biographical sketch in outline. An energetic, stirring man whose whole
ambition and energies was to keep in the van of his affairs, and abreast
with the time in advancement of all kinds, he has well-earned the pleasant
retirement from active duties that he now enjoys.
Our subject, who is now a retired farmer, is a son of Tobias Renner, who was
probably a native of Maryland. His mother was Cynthia Smith, who was born in
New Jersey. They came to Shelby County, this State, from Belmont County,
Ohio, in 1837, although after marriage they first settled in Pennsylvania,
removing from there to Guernsey County, Ohio, whence they went to Belmont
County. At their advent into this State and country, they settled in
Richland Township, where they lived for some years. The father died about
1840. The mother survived her husband for several years, at last passing
away in Richland Township. They were the parents of a large family of
children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth. He was
probably born in Green County, Pa., his natal day being November 12, 1815.
Samuel Rentier made his advent into Shelby County with his parents in the
fall of 1837. They at once settled upon a farm, and the lad was brought up
to that calling, and has always followed it. He was married in Richland
Township, November 8, 1838, to Miss Martha Balch, a daughter of Amos and
Martha (Leach) Balch. The former was a native of Tennessee. The mother died
when Mrs. Renner was quite young. The family went from Kentucky to Indiana,
where the mother's death took place. After that sad event Mr. Balch came to
Shelby County, this state, in 1836, settling in Richland Township, where he
lived for about four years, at the expiration of which time he removed to
Bond County, and there died. Mrs. Renner is one of a family of eleven
children, there having been seven sons and four daughters, and of these the
lady who became the wife of our subject, was the youngest. She was born in
Indiana, September 30, 1821.
After the union of our subject and wife, they settled in Richland Township,
on a farm located on section 27, where they lived upwards of fifty years,
until March, 1889, when they removed to Strasburg, where they are now making
their home. Their town residence is a cozy place, where they can enjoy the
afternoon of life with its soft mellow sunset in serenity and peace. Some of
their children live near at hand, and in them and the lives of their
families they live again their own youthful experience. Mr. and Mrs. Renner
are the parents of twelve children. Those living are Martha, John, Joseph,
Emeline, James and Elizabeth. Martha is the wife of Joseph Rouse, and is
distinguished for her matronly bearing, being a gentle and loving wife and
helpmate; Emeline married James Turner; Elizabeth is the wife of Berry
Barker. The eldest son, Stephen was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion,
and died a victim of typhoid fever, at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., after having
served for three months. The other deceased children passed away when young.
In his political preference Mr. Renner is a Republican having been in his
youth, a follower of the old line Whig party. Religiously he and his wife
are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which body they have
done good service. Our subject and his wife have passed a long life in
usefulness and devotion, not only to their own personal desires and aims,
but for the elevation and help of their fellow-men. They have more than
passed the scripturally allotted portion of life and approach the time when
wearied with the cares of existence, each will be glad to say:
"Good night; now cometh gentle sleep,
"And dreams that fall like gentle rain;
"Good night! Oh holy, blessed and deep
"The rest that follows pain,
"How should we reach God's upper Light
"If life's long day had no good-night."
Extracted 13 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 436-439.
