Renner, John

John Renner, a substantial farmer of Grant Township, living two miles southeast from Fairport, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, on July 22, 1827. He was the seventh of ten children born to Daniel and Lydia (Fry) Renner. The father was a native of Germany, and immigrated to America with his parents when about twelve years of age, and settled in Harrison County, Ohio. He was a man of good education, having attended school while in Germany, and afterward in the United States. He learned the shoemaker’s trade, and was at one time a wealthy merchant. In the latter part of his life, however, he engaged in farming. He removed to Fulton County, Ill., in 1842. The mother was born in Maryland. She was the daughter of Joseph Fry, a native of Maryland, who removed to Belmont County, Ohio, where he died. Both parents died in Illinois. They were members of the Methodist Church. John was reared on the farm, and acquired a limited education in the common schools of Illinois. He removed to De Kalb County, Mo., in September, 1856, and located in what is now Washington Township. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he volunteered in the Home Guards on August 10, 1861, and served about a month in Capt. Pritchard’s company, when they were discharged. On January 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, of the First Regiment of Missouri State Militia Cavalry, in which he served until the following December, when he was discharged on account of sickness. He was third sergeant in Company H. On May 27, 1863, he volunteered in Company M, of the First Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, of which he was commissioned fourth sergeant, and served until July 12, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. In 1875 he located on the farm where he now resides. He owns 280 acres of good land, upon which is a fine residence. He is a member of John Williams Post, No. 218, G. A. R., and is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he was ordained deacon about two years ago. On October 2, 1851, he was united in marriage with Eliza Kost, who was born in Pennsylvania March 16, 1829. She is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wolf) Kost, both of whom were natives of Cumberland County, Penn. The father was born in 1794, and died in 1832. The mother was born in 1796, and died in 1877. At the time of their marriage the parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and the husband died in that faith, but in later life the mother joined the Methodist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Renner eight children have been born as follows: Albert, July 10, 1852, now residing in Nebraska, and who married Survilla Phelps; Izora, March 5, 1855, now Mrs. Virgil McCrea, of De Kalb County; Melissa, April 20, 1858, now Mrs. John Ginn, of De Kalb County; John K., June 24, 1860, died August 23, 1860; George, September 7, 1861, married Rebecca Shuckman, daughter of George Shuckman; Clara B., April 23, 1866; Wilbert, May 31, 1867, recently returned from school at Valparaiso, Ind.; Leona, November 2, 1869, now teaching at the Harman schoolhouse, in De Kalb County.

Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), pp. 580-581.