U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Renner, T. E. A. (b. 1826) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 458-459 T. E. A. RENNER. a retired merchant of Buffalo, Putnam County, West Virginia, was born April 27, 1826, in the Grand Duchy, Saxe-Wiemar, near Jena, in the historic locality where the Emperor Napoleon defeated the Prussian Army. His parents were T. and Magdalene (Miller) Renner, the former of whom was a professor in the University of Jena, continuing his lectures there, making a specialty of comparative anatomy and veterinary surgery, until his death at the age of 82 years. The mother died aged 74 years. Mr. Renner, of this sketch, is one of a family of nine children, five of whom still survive, namely: Edward, who lives near Parkersburg; August, who lives in New York; Ernest, who resides in Germany near the old home; Eliza, who is married and lives at Jena; and T. E. A., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Renner was well educated in his native country and secured an excellent position as clerk in a court, which he held until 1854, when at the age of 28 years, he came to America. His coming was in the nature of a visit to relatives and friends near Parkersburg. He engaged in farm work with his friends and there met a Mr. Stark, who was an extensive piano manufacturer at Pittsburg. Through the latter's introduction, he formed a partnership in 1855, with Dr. C. M. Pitrat, of Buffalo, in a general store (after working in the Merchant mill for a time). They started their business just south of where the mill now stands and the business was conducted under the firm name of C. M. Pitrat. Mr. Renner withdrew from this partnership in 1879 and engaged in a similar line of business at Red House as manager for I. F. Paston, remaining there five years. He then engaged in business for himself at Pliny, West Virginia, and remained there five years, during which time he became afflicted with rheumatism. This caused him to sell his business and retire from activity. He has not engaged in any particular business since 1895. In 1859 Mr. Renner was united in marriage to Caroline Stark, who was born in Hanau, Germany, and was educated at Pittsburg, but who then resided at Buffalo, where she was a popular school teacher. To them were born five children, of whom the three survivors are: F. J. C, a merchant at Buffalo; Lida S., wife of J. E. Frazier at Buffalo; and Emil F., of Buffalo. Mrs. Renner died March 11, 1886. Mr. Renner has been a prominent man in his locality and has served both as town recorder and as councilman. He had been for 12 years postmaster at Buffalo when he resigned in 1879. In the following year he became postmaster at Red House and so continued until 1885. He also served as postmaster at Pliny and Frazier's Bottom, West Virginia, — three years at the former place and one year at the latter. In politics he is a Republican. In religious belief, he was reared in the Lutheran faith. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Putnam County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/putnam/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------