Job R. Renick
The late Job R. Renick, who belonged to one of the oldest and wealthiest families of Pickaway County, rose to prominence as one of its foremost farmers and stockmen, who controlled large landed and stock interests, centering in Jackson Township. At his death the county lost one of the truest and best of her native-born sons, who had ever been an honor to her citizenship.
Mr. Renick was born on the old Renick homestead in Jackson Township, where he always lived, Febrviary 9, 1820. He obtained his early schooling in the log schoolhouses that were among the first established in the county, and later attended the Blendon and Athens academies. His father was an invalid for six years prior to his death, and our subject and his brother, Thomas T., farmed the home place on shares until his death, and then they bought it, thus aggregating nearly twelve hundred acres of land. At his death, Thomas willed his interest in the farm to our subject. The latter once farmed very extensively, but subsequently went into the stock business largely, making a specialty of fine Durham and Rose of Sharon cattle, and of draft horses and roadsters of the best breeds, beside raising sheep. He was a first-class farmer, and he showed good judgment and wise economy in feeding all the corn that he raised, never selling but one load in his life. He was a man of splendid business endowments, and under his care his property increased greatly in value, and he also added to his landed estate, so that at the time of his death he owned seventeen hundred acres of choice real estate. The commodious frame residence, the finest and largest in Jackson Township, occupied by his wife and children, was built by him in 1890, but he was never to live in it, as he died February 19, 1891, just before the family moved into it, June 8, 1875, Mr. Renick was married to Miss Ella Rutter, a native of Circleville, and her devotion and companionship, with that of the children, made his last years his best and happiest. Mrs. Renick is a daughter of Jacob and Deborah (McClelland) Rutter, who are natives, respectively, of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Her father came to this county in 1831, and established himself in the tailoring business under the firm name of Rock & Rutter. He was engaged at that eleven or twelve years, and then turned his attention to farming, buying a place in Washington Township, upon which he lived a year. He stocked the farm, and though he returned to the city, continued to manage it for some years, and also bought another farm in Monroe Township. Subsequently, he entered into the hardware business at Circleville, carrying it on for some twenty-five years with two other gentlemen, under the firm name of Rutter, Wolfley & Rains, the latter part of the time as Rutter & Wolfley. He now lives retired from active business in Circleville, but still retains a farm of two hundred and forty-one acres in Muhlenberg Township, which he rents. He and his wife have reared three children: Anna M., who died in 1864, aged twenty--one; Edward T., who died in 1887, at the age of thirty-two years, and Mrs. Renick. The latter became the mother of four children, but one, Nellie, died in infancy. The others are Harry R., Job E. and John J. Mrs. Renick is in every way a most admirable woman, of pronounced ability and remarkable business qualifications, as is manifested by the skillful way in which she manages her large farm of sixteen hundred acres, and at the same time has a well-ordered household. She is a member of the Methodist Church, and her name is associated with its every good work.
Mr. Renick was a man of much strength of character, of a kind and loving disposition, who, although he saw much trouble in his life, bore it cheerfully, and was never disposed to make others help him bear his burdens, or to sadden others with them. He was not a member of the church, but was a true believer in religion, and gave liberally of his means in support of the church and all good objects. One of his last public acts was to give a lot on which to build a Methodist Church. His fellow-men always found him kind and sympathizing, and generous where charity was needed, and in his family he was a devoted husband and an indulgent father. A strong Republican, he took a great interest in national affairs, and was influential in local politics. He was urged to accept the nomination for Representative to the State Legislature, but declined the honor.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]