BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of
COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO 1764-1876
by William E. Hunt. - Publ. Cincinnati - Robert Clarke & Co., Printers
1876

Unless otherwise noted

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ALEXANDER RENFREW came from Union county, Pennsylvania, where he was born Aug. 18, 1801, to Coshocton county in 1826, and remained therein until his death on his farm in Keene township, February 13, 1872.  He married Miss Carnahan in 1833, who, with three children, survives him.  Starting in life with little, he, by a life of industry and frugality, amassed a very considerable estate.  Public life had little attractions, and his record is that of a quiet citizen, a successful farmer, and a busy man, manifesting the virtues of domestic and business life. Source: HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO 1764-1876 by William E. Hunt. - Publ. Cincinnati - Robert Clarke & Co., Printers - 1876 - Page 247

JAMES RENFREW, one of the earliest merchants in Coshocton county, and for a few years county treasurer, and otherwise connected with public affairs, was born at Lisburn, county Antrim, Ireland, in 1767.  He brought to America a healthy body, a strong mind, and a little of this world's goods, which were steadily increased until his death.  He commenced keeping store in Coshocton about 1815.  In 1820, while in Pittsburg, whiter he was in the habit of going for goods, he married Mrs. Johnson, a widowed sister of old Dr. Kerr, of the A. R. Presbyterian church in that city.  The children of this woman found in Mr. Renfrew a most worthy step-father.  He was an admirable counselor and helper while living, and a generous friend when dying.  Both himself and his wife were most zealous Presbyterians, and sought to have all connected with them honor the Lord.  Beside the Johnsons (John, Jos. K., and Wm.), Robert Hay was an object of Mr. Renfrew's interest and business training, and always spoke in highest terms of him.  Wm. Renfrew (quite prominent as a merchant and otherwise) and James Renfrew, Jr. were children of Mr. Renfrew by a connection formed prior to his coming to Coshocton.  He had no children by the widow Johnson.  Mr. Renfrew died in 1832, being in his sixty-fifth year.  Source: HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO 1764-1876 by William E. Hunt. - Publ. Cincinnati - Robert Clarke & Co., Printers - 1876 - Page 233

JAMES Le RETILLERY was born in the Isle of Guernsey, in 1788.  He came to this country in 1806, settling in Guernsey county, where was a settlement of people from the island of the same name.  Removing to Muskingum county, at a point about ten miles below Coshocton, he engaged in the manufacture of salt, along with George Bagnall.  They made about six bushels a day at three dollars a bushel, or exchanged a bushel for twelve bushels of wheat.  Their salt was carried to remote points, some of it by canoes and pirogues up the Killbuck almost to Wooster.  In 1825, the Kanawha and lower Muskingum salt coming into market, largely rendered the business of Retilley & Bagnall unprofitable, and they removed to Caldersburg (Roscoe).  Retilley and William Wood set up a dry-goods store (in a log-cabin), the first in the place.  After a few years Wood retired, and the firm became Bagnall & Retilley, and for years was very prominent in trade circles, doing a very large business.      Mr. Retilley was one of the associate judges of the county, and an active adherent of the Methodist church in Roscoe.  He died in December, 1850, aged sixty-two years. He was twice married.  His second wife (the daughter of T. Emerson of Keene), now resides in Granville.  His descendants are still well known in the land. Source: HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO 1764-1876 by William E. Hunt. - Publ. Cincinnati - Robert Clarke & Co., Printers - 1876 - Page 238

BENJAMIN RICKETTS was born near Cumberland, Maryland.  Learning his trade as a hatter in that town, he afterward opened a shop at Marietta; still later, had one in Zanesville.  Giving up his shop, he set up a store in West Zanesville.  He commenced selling goods in Coshocton in 1818, and in the spring of 1820, brought the family to the town.  His successful prosecution of business was most clearly apparent in the accumulations attending it.  He became a large land-holder and well-known citizen.      He served one term as county commissioner. He and the opposing candidate were " tied " on the vote, and by lot the office devolved upon Mr. Ricketts. fie was never much enamored of public office, and, it is understood, never held any except this one.      His church connection was with the Methodist Episcopalians.      Like many, indeed nearly or quite all, of the successful and prominent men of Coshocton county, Mr. Ricketts was greatly aided in all his life's work by his wife, who, at the good old age of nearly eighty-five years, is still living in Coshocton.  She was from Hampshire county, Virginia; was married when about sixteen years of age, in 1807.      Mr. Ricketts died July 1, 1857. His descendants and connections are many, and few families have been better known " in the gates " than his. Source: HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO 1764-1876 by William E. Hunt. - Publ. Cincinnati - Robert Clarke & Co., Printers - 1876 - Page 237

JAMES ROBINSON came with his father's family into the locality now known as Franklin township, Coshocton county, then the Northwestern territory, in 1801.  He was born in Clarksburg, Harrison county, Virginia, in 1787.  He served one term as associate judge, and two terms in the legislature; but he seems to have taken most interest in his broad acres, and to have been chiefly famed as a large land-holder and enterprising farmer.  He was also very actively interested in the Methodist Episcopal church, being chiefly instrumental in the planting of our Bethany church, where his descendants still worship.  He died May 7, 1856. Source: HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO 1764-1876 by William E. Hunt. - Publ. Cincinnati - Robert Clarke & Co., Printers - 1876 - Page 236

THOMAS L. RUE, appointed as clerk of the court in 1811, and candidate for the legislature in 1814, was the oldest son of Rev. Joseph Rue, of Pennington, New Jersey - a well-known Presbyterian minister.  He came to Coshocton county in 1811; a little later, went to New Orleans, coming back the overland route.  He married Miss Fulton, and for some years gave himself to the management of a large tract o land (since known as the Rickett's lands) near Coshocton, acquired by that alliance.  Afterward he was engaged in trade with C. Van Kirk.  He died in Roscoe, Feb. 17, 1871 (aged eighty-eight years), at the house of Dr. M. Johnson, who had married his only child.  He was a brother of Joseph W. Rue. Source: HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO 1764-1876 by William E. Hunt. - Publ. Cincinnati - Robert Clarke & Co., Printers - 1876 - Page 232-233