THOMAS J. RALSTAN, a well-known Huntington township farmer is living on land originally bought by one of his ancestors during the latter part of the eighteenth century.  In fact he is a grandson of the second white man who settled in that part of Ross county now included in Huntington township.  By general consent, William Richie was the first arrival, but close after him came Benjamin Ralstan, who built his cabin in the hills of Huntington before 1800.  He had come with his wife, formerly Margaret Henry, from Rockingham county, Va., making the journey on horseback.  Benjamin Ralstan bought from Henry Massie 600 acres of land, which from that day to this has remained in the possession of his posterity.  About 1805 he set out an orchard which furnished apples for many generations of boys and some of the trees were still standing up to a very recent period.  "Ben," as he was familiarly called, like Nimrod in the Bible narrative, was a "mighty hunter in the land."  Nothing pleased him so well as a rough-and-tumble chase after bear, deer or other big game, and if the traditions are correct, it was his live for this sport which eventually led to his death.  while out hunting one very cold night, he lost his way in the woods and perished with cold before morning.  Next day his body was found by the searchers in Streevey's hollow, not far from where one of his grandsons subsequently lived.  Benjamin and Margaret Ralstan had a family of three sons and several daughters, most of whom were born in Ross county.  Robert, the youngest of the boys, was born in 1795 and spent his whole life within a few rods of the place where his father first settled.  During the ninety-six years of his existence he was never more than forty miles from home and is not known to have ever rode on the cars.  He married Maria Taylor, daughter of Zachariah and Mary Taylor, early settlers in Buckskin township, and took possession of a hewed log house, which ever afterward constituted their abode.  Here in the progress of years there grew up about them the unusually large number of fifteen children, whose names are thus recorded in the family register; Allen, now a resident of Pike county, O.; Rebecca, wife of Noah Freshour, of Vincennes, Ind.; Hiram of Fayette county; Emily, wife of Alexander Freshour, of Huntington township; Benjamin, deceased; Thomas J., subject of this sketch; Margaret, wife of Joseph Cross, of Chillicothe; Jane E., wife of Samuel Edgerton, of South Salem; James of Huntington township; Robert, of Chillicothe, Ohio; Malinda, Elizabeth, Rosa B., Wesley and Francis V.  Robert Ralstan died in 1891, about the time he had completed his ninety-six year, and his wife passed away when eight years old.  Thomas J. Ralstan, sixth of this large family of children, was born in Ross county, Apr. 8, 1842, on the farm in Huntington township, where he now resides.  In early manhood he married Ada Streevey, who also has a distinguished pioneer ancestry running as far back in the history of Huntington township as that of her husband.  In fact the first founders of these respective families settled about the same time and were intimate friends.  Many a hunt did Peter Streevey and Benjamin Ralston have together in the "good old days" when the woods were full of panthers, bear, deer and other lordly game.  His son Peter was also a great hunter and one of his adventures is still remembered in the township traditions and often talked over in the families of their descendants.  One day, so runs the story, when Ben and Peter were out near Pinnacle Knob they heard the dogs barking up a big chestnut tree which had been broken off at the top some forty feet from the ground.  Peter Streevey climbed this tree and thrust his pole down, with the result that Mr. Bruin soon emerged and climbed down on one side, while his pursuer lost no time in hastening down the other.  Ralstan, with the aid of the dogs, killed the old bear and later Streevey reascended the stump and captured two frisky cubs which he carried home alive.  Paul Streevey served in the revolutionary war, and had three boys, Daniel, Joseph and Peter, who were soldiers in the war of 1812.  After his marriage to Miss Streevey, Thomas J. Ralstan settled on the place of 200 acres, which was his share of his father's estate, and this he has cultivated successfully.  Recently he built a neat frame house which is the latest of the many improvements he has added to his patrimony since coming into possession.  Mr. and Mrs. Ralstan have one child, Georgie by name.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 646-648

GEORGE & JEREMIAH B. RATCLIFF, general merchants, of Gillespieville, are the sons of Jeremiah Ratcliff and grandsons of John and Rachel (Ray) Ratcliff, natives of North Carolina who came to Ross county in 1804.  They settled in Liberty township and later removed to what is now Vinton county, where they died,  John Ratcliff in 1846 and his wife in 1873.  They had a family of twelve children, of whom four are now living.  One of these is Jeremiah Ratcliff, who was born in Hocking county on June 10, 1816, and has always resided within five miles of Londonderry.  He is a farmer by occupation and at one time owned 400 acres of land.  In 1847, he married Ruth Brown, daughter of George and Achsa (Dixon) Brown, of Vinton county.  Jeremiah and his wife had five children, of whom George, William and Jeremiah B. are still living and John W. and Thomas are dead.  George Ratcliff was born Aug. 7, 1848, was educated in the common schools and started in life as clerk for his uncle, Thomas Ratcliff, at Londonderry.  In 1870 he formed a partnership with his father in the mercantile business and after four years the latter gave his interests to his other son, John W.  The brothers continued the business until 1884, when Jeremiah B. entered the partnership with his brothers and the firm became known as Ratcliff Bros., and so continued for some time, or until John W. withdrew from the firm and took charge of the hardware department.  At this juncture the present firm was organized, John W. continuing for some time in charge of the hardware but later engaging in farming until his death.  George Ratcliff, the elder member of the firm, has held the office of treasurer of his township for twelve years or more.  He was married on July 2, 1873, to Eliza J. Jones, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Ross) Jones  They have four living children, John R., George H., Ruth E. and Blanche A.  Jeremiah B. Ratcliff, the younger member of the firm, was born in Vinton county, June 10, 1864, was educated in the common schools, and in 1884, as stated, went into business with his brothers.  He was married in 1895 to Elma, daughter of Mahlon and Rebecca (Jones) Dixon of Ross county, and they have two children, Harold and Ernest.  Jeremiah Ratcliff is a member of Garfield lodge, No. 710, I. O. O. F., of Richmond Dale, also of the Gillespieville camp, No. 6,555, of Modern woodmen.  William Ratcliff, another brother, was born in Vinton county, on Feb. 16, 1857.  He received the ordinary common school education, has followed the business of farming and is now one of the county commissioners of Vinton county.  He is a member of the Garfield lodge of Odd Fellows, at Richmond Dale.  Oct. 6, 1878, he was married to Mellie A., daughter of Nelson and Marina (Peecher) Graves, of Ross county.  They have two children, Clifford and Louise.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 648

J. ERNEST RATCLIFF, recorder of Ross county, was born in Liberty township of that county on Sept. 9, 1875.  His parents were John W. and Ella S. (Motter) Ratcliff, both natives of Ross county.  The father was born in 1852, and at the time of his death on Aug. 17, 1899, was a well-to-do farmer.  The mother was born Mar. 29, 1855, and passed away on Apr. 13, 1899, only a few months before her husband.  They had a family of eight children, only three of whom are living.  The latter are Hattie M., the eldest sister, is the wife of S. W. Arganbright, a farmer on the old homestead, and the youngest of the family resides with them.  J. Ernest Ratcliff was educated in the schools of Liberty township and was graduated from the high school in 1891.  His father had been a merchant at Londonderry for twenty-five years and he became a partner with him after completing his school course.  This business was disposed of by sale in 1892, and the family removed to their farm.  There Mr. Ratcliff remained until 1895, when he accepted the position of deputy county recorder under Lee DesMartin and served for six years in that capacity.  In the fall of 1900, Mr. Ratcliff was nominated by the Republican party as candidate for the office of county recorder.  At the ensuing election he was chosen by the people, and he took charge of the office on the first Monday of September, 1901.  He enjoys the distinction of being the youngest county officer in Ohio, being elected when twenty-five, and is especially well qualified for the position he holds, owing to the fact that he is an unusually fine penman.  This valuable gift was not the result of training or extra cultivation, but came to him naturally.  His records, during the six years or more in which he did that work, are pronounced perfect by expert judges.  In fact, his chirography is as perfect as such work can be made, equaling, if it does not excel, that of the professional penman in our business colleges.  Nov. 24, 1894, Mr. Ratcliff was married to Lola F., daughter of John and Nettie (Cotterell) Young.  Mrs. Ratcliff was born, reared and educated in Gallia county, Ohio.  Both husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  Mr. Ratcliff is a member of Tecumseh lodge, No. 80, I. O. O. F., of Chillicothe.  Politically he is a staunch Republican and a worker among the young men of his party.  His grandfather, Jeremiah Ratcliff, is living at the age of eighty-six years in the enjoyment of good health, his wife having died recently also well advanced in years.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 649

LORENZO D. RAY, M. D., of Gillespieville, was born in Jackson county, Aug. 3, 1848.  His parents were John G. and Louisa (Dixon) Ray, both natives of Vinton county, Ohio.  John G. was the son of Teague and Amy (Graves) Ray, the former of North Carolina and the latter born in Kentucky, while her parents were on the way to Ohio in 1805.  Teague was a son of Thomas and Charity (Teague) Ray, both North Carolinians who came to Ross county in 1805, and settled in Jefferson township on a farm now owned by George Rittenour, but soon went on Middle fork of Salt Creek, two miles west of Ray, where they spent the balance of their days, and left a family of seven children.  Teague and Amy (Graves) Ray spent their lives on the same farm and there reared a family of eight children.   Their son Jonathan lives on the home farm at the age of seventy-one years; Joseph and Nancy live in Illinois, and Charity at Wellston, Ohio.  John G. Ray was a farmer by occupation, held the office of justice of the peace about thirty years and died in Jackson county in 1896, his wife having passed away in the preceding year.  All of their seven children are living, four of them being doctors and one a lawyer.  Dr. Lorenzo D. Ray was reared on the farm and educated at the National Norman university in Lebanon, O. 1887 he was graduated from the Rush Medical college of Chicago, and shortly thereafter he entered upon the practice of his professon in Wapello county, Iowa.  In 1897 he came to Londonderry, O., at which place he resumed the active practice of medicine.  April 13, 1871, he was married to Francis M., daughter of George W. and Euphama (Milner) Brooks, who came to Jackson county, Ohio about the year 1849.  By this marriage Dr. Ray had three children.  Of these, Minnie V. is the wife of Tilson Gallagher, of Jackson, O.; Nettie V. is married to N. C. Manlove, of Dayton, O.; and children died Jan. 20, 1898.  On Dec. 31, 1901, Dr. Ray was married to Mrs. Maria Benson, of Columbus, Ohio.  Dr. Ray is a member of Mineral lodge, No. 259, A. F. & A. M. of Hamden Junction, O.; of Clinton chapter and council at Ottumwa, Iowa; Malta commandery, Knights Templar, No 31, at Ottumwa; Benedict lodge, No. 586, I. O. O. F., of Blakesburg, Iowa; and Camp, No. 62, W. O. W., of Blakesburg.  The doctor has never een an office seeker, although in early life he held the place of justice of the peace in Jackson county, and in the spring of 1902 he was elected justice of the peace of Liberty township.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 650

AMOS RAYMOND, the well known veterinary surgeon of Kingston, has been in touch with Ross county affairs for more than half a century.  Though a native of one of the neighboring counties, he was brought to Ross by his parents when only nine years old and most of his active life and work has been within her limits.  In youth he acquired knowledge of the useful and honorable trade of shoemaking and he has made boots and shoes for two generations of Ross county boys and girls.  When Mr. Raymond was a boy he acquired a taste for horse-trading, which soon grew into a passion, and before he was out of his "teens" he was a match for the best of them in the art of judging, buying and selling the equine animal.  This constant association with horses necessitated a study of their habits, characteristics, needs and ailments.  Motives financial as well as humanitarian induced him to notice when his horses were sick and, if possible, to devise remedies to cure them.  In other workds, the groundwork was laid for the study of veterinary surgery, one of the more useful of all the branches of the great science of healing, in which Mr. Raymond by degrees became an adept, and which he afterward took up professionally and has practiced for more than forty years.  Nor has hi swork been confined to that noble animal which has well been defined as man's earliest and most faithful friend among all the orders of quadrupeds.  He has studied and successfully treated domestic animals of all kinds, in accordance with the teaching of modern civilization that man's dumb friends are entitled to the best care that can be given them.  By studying and practicing so assiduously one branch of medical science, Mr. Raymond naturally absorbed much knowledge of other departments and is well versed in the general theory and practice of medicine. In fact, he has performed some cures of diseases in his own family which had baffled the skill of the professional physicians.  His father was Daniel Raymond, a native of Adams county, Pa., who learned the house carpenter's trade in Philadelphia and came to Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1827, when twenty-two years old.  There he met and married Margaret Overmeyer, who had been brought to the same county by her parents when a child.  Both died in Fairfield county, the father, Mar. 10, 1875, in his seventy-first year, and the mother in August, 1880, when seventy-three years old.  They had a family of eleven children, of whom nine are living in different parts of the South and West.  Amos Raymond was born in Pickaway county, Nov. 4, 1829, and when sixteen years old began an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, after his family settled at Adelphi, in Ross county.  When he had fully qualified himself he worked at his trade in Adelphi for thirty years, and there and elsewhere has been in that business more or less for over fifty-two years.  In 1876 he located on a farm in Pickaway county, and two years later bought a place in Salt Creek township, where he resided until 1884.  In that year he purchased property in Prairie View, where he made his residence until 1890 and then settled permanently at Kingston.  During all these removals and changes, in whatever place or county he resided, Dr. Raymond practiced his profession or worked at his trade as the exigencies of the occasion permitted or demanded.  He takes a pardonable pride in recalling that he was one of the organizers of the Republican party and participated actively in all of the early political battles against slavery extension.  His first presidential vote was cast for Gen. Winfield Scott, the Whig candidate for president sequent Republican candidate for the presidency.  He has held various minor offices, serving many years as member of the Adelphia school board, and in 1899 was elected justice of the peace in Green township for a term of three years.  He has always been an ardent friend of universal education and was one of the board under whose jurisdiction the large and valuable school-house at Adelphi was erected.  He is an unusually well informed man, especially on historical and medical subjects, concerning which he has been an omnivorus reader and close student all his life.  Jan. 1, 1852, Dr. Raymond was married to Mary Binkley, born at Tarlton, Pickaway county, Nov. 29, 1834, and the half century which has followed that event has been replete with mutual self-sacrifice and affectionate devotion to each other's welfare.  Of their eleven children, consisting of six sons and five daughters, they reared to maturity all but one, that being the third born.  The full list is: William, Henry, Ettie Howard, James Finley, Charles Carey, Addie May, and Jesse Fremont.  William, the eldest, died at the age of twenty-six years.  All the living children are married and in business for themselves in various localities.  Mrs. Raymond is member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but Dr. Raymond is not affiliated with any religious organization.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 651-652

ENGELHART R. REBSTOCK, now leading a retired life in Hallsville, Ohio, after a successful career as a mechanic, is a sample of that excellent citizenship obtained by the United States through German channels.  His parents, Christian and Madeline (Janna) Rebstock, came from the fatherland in 1845, and located at Chillicothe.  In that city, Christian for some time conducted a store, which he afterward moved on Little Walnut, about nine miles from Chillicothe.  His wife died Oct. 15, 1852, and his death occurred Nov. 5, 1868.   They reared a family of four sons and five daughters, three of the former still living.  E. R. Rebstock, eighth of the children, was born in Germany, Nov. 1, 1837, and crossed the ocean with his parents when about seven years old.  He grew up in Chillicothe and learned the trade of wagon-making, which he was working at in Green township when the civil war opened.  He enlisted in Company B, Twenty-sixth regiment Ohio infantry, with which he served through many arduous campaigns.  The principal battles in which he participated were those of Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, not to mention numerous lighter engagements and skirmishes.  He was severely wounded at the battle of Missionary Ridge, receiving a bullet in the right leg, which necessitated several months in the hospital and subsequent discharge on account of disability.  This occurred March 29,1 864, after which Mr. Rebstock made his way back to Ohio and as soon as able resumed work at his trade in Hallsville.  Feb. 12, 1867, he was married at Hallsville to Mary Pontious, a native of Colerain township, and daughter of Conrad and Mary (Seebold) Pontious, both born in Union county, Pa., of German ancestry.  Conrad Pontious settled in Ross county about 1822 and became one of the wealthiest farmers in Colerain township, owning 400 acres of land and much other valuable property.  He reared a family of five children, of whom three are living, and died at the age of seventy-seven years.  Mr. and Mrs. Rebstock have one son, Landis, born Apr. 20, 1872, and a butcher by trade.  He married Lydia, daughter of John Albin, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and has one child, Zelma Fay, born in 1896.  Mr. Rebstock is a member of Bookwalter lodge, No. 155, Grand Army of the Republic.  When he first commenced work at his trade he received only $25 for the first year, but did better later on, and continued the business for thirty-eight years, when he ceased operations in that line.  He owns a good tract of land near Hallsville, which he cultivates in connection with stock raising, and lives a retired life in the village, from which he superintends work on the farm.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 652

REV. JOSEPH REINICKE, pastor of the  German Evangelical Salem church in Chillicothe, was born in Elgin, Ill., Jan. 8, 1863.  His father, Rev. Fritz G. Reinicke, a minister in the same denomination as himself, was born in 1834 in Luckenwalde, a town of Brandenburg, Prussia; was educated in Berlin, and came to America at the age of twenty-one years, establishing himself first in northern Illinois and later at Chicago.  He was in active ministerial work for a period of forty-three years, from 1855 until 1898, when he retired.  His first years in the ministry were spent as an organizer and his labors as an itinerant were arduous.  He married Eva Young, who was born Dec. 31, 1836, near Strasburg, Germany, of French ancestors, daughter of a forester in the employ of France in the province of Alsace.  She was educated in Paris, and died near Chicago, on Nov. 21, 1866.  They had four children, two sons and two daughters, three of whom are living.  Paul Gustave, the eldest of the children, died in infancy.  Of the sisters, Martha is now Mrs. Zietlow wife of a building contractor at Wausau, Wis.; Mrs. Talitha Graves resides at the same place.  Joseph Reinicke received his elementary education at Wausau, Wis., where he attended school until the age of fourteen.   Subsequently he entered the preparatory college of the church at Elmhurst, Ill., where he completed his preparations for entrance into the theological seminary at St. Louis, Mo., from which he was graduated in 1884.  He was ordained the same year and his first charge was as assistant pastor in St. Paul's Evangelical church at Chicago.  This was the same church of which his father had been assistant pastor so many years before, and under the same minister, the Rev. Joseph Hartman, now deceased.  After spending one year at St. Paul's, Mr. Reinicke was called to the pastorate of a church at Tripoli, Iowa, where he remained six years.  While at that place he built a parsonage, rebuilt the church, and altogether had a very successful pastorate.  From Iowa, he went to Bremen, Ind., where he preached for two years, when he was called by the mission board to do mission work at Battle Creek, Mich.  At that point, where he remained 1895 he was called to the pastorate of his present charge in Chillicothe.  On June 22, 1887, he was married to Katherine Forler, of Niles, Mich., daughter of George K. Forler.  Mr. and Mrs. Reinicke have five children: Fritz, a student in the Chillicothe high school; congregation at Chillicothe of 188 families, or 530 individual members entitled to communion.  This church was established in 1881 by Rev. C. E. Clausen, who was pastor of the same for over ten years, and was succeeded by Rev. O. Schettler,  who had charge for four and a half years, when he was followed by Mr. Reinicke.  The latter has made substantial improvements in the church and parsonage, the spiritual life of the membership being in excellent condition.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 653

JOHN W. REMLEY, of East Springfield, was born in Ross county, O., June 24, 1861, the son of Thomas and Catharine A. (McNeal) Remley.  Thomas was the son of Conrad Remley who came to Ross county in an early period of the State's settlement and here spent his future life.  His wife was the daughter of Thomas McNeal a native of Ireland, who became a pioneer of Ross county.  Thomas Remley followed the occupation of farming and died in 1890, his wife surviving him until 1893.  Their son, John W. Remley, was reared on the farm and well educated in the common schools.  He followed the example of his father and has devoted his whole life to the  business of farming, now owning 100 acres of the old homestead.  In January, 1896, he was married to Kate Overly, daughter of John Overly, deceased, formerly a farmer of west Springfield township.  They have two children, whose names are Forest and Elwood.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 654

FELIX RENICK, a civil war veteran and farmer, now living a retired life at Richmond Dale, bears a name known in many parts of the United States, but especially familiar in Ross and Pickaway counties, Ohio, where the family has long had numerous and influential representatives.  The earliest known progenitors of this substantial stock were driven from Germany to Scotland by religious persecution, subsequent descendants finding their way to Ireland and thence to the United States.  The first emigrants to this country were two Irish brothers who finally settled i Hardy county, W. Va., in the region watered by the South branch of the Potomac river.  Felix Renick, a descendant of one of those early settlers, having heard of the beauty and fertility of the Scioto valley from soldiers who had served in Lord Dunmore's Indian war of 1774, concluded to visit and investigate this garden in the wilderness.  About Oct. 1, 1798, accompanied by two companions, he set out on horseback for a long and dangerous ride to be reported Eldorado.  The little party met with many adventures and endured not a few hardships, but eventually reached Chillicothe and, after making an exploration of the surrounding country, returned to Virginia.  This trip determined Felix Renick to seek a home in the new country, and accordingly he made a final emigration in 1801 to Ross county, which was ever afterward his place of residence.  In connection with several of his kindred, a settlement was made at Highbank in Liberty township, where they bought a large tract for $2.50 per acre at the sale of government lands in Chillicothe.  Felix Renick rose to prominence and influence in the county, his death occurring in 1848 as the result of an accident.  By his wife, Hannah Lee, he was the father of George W. Renick, born in Hardy county, W. Va., Aug. 15, 1796, and brought to the new home in the west on horseback behind his mother.  The elder Renick and some neighbors had employed a man named Wait to teach a private school for the accommodation of their children, and in this George W. obtained the rudiments of an education.  This, however, he greatly increased in after life by reading and study, also acquiring a knowledge of surveying, which at that period was a valuable accomplishment. In 1825, he was married to Eliza McClean, of Chillicothe, by whom he had three children: William, Henry Edwin and John McClean.  Losing his wife by death in 1835, Mr. Renick was married in February, 1838, to Harriet, daughter of Dennis McConnell, a farmer residing near Hopetown.  The children of this second marriage were Dennis, Felix and George Joseph.  During his long career as a citizen of Ross county, George W. Renick became a man of distinction and unusual popularity.  After his first marriage he farmed for several years in Pickaway county and then, in association with his brother Henry, purchased a farm of 1,000 acres four miles from Chillicothe on the west bank of the Scioto, which was ever afterward his place of residence.  In 1852, when the Western farmers were becoming eager for thoroughbred stock of all kinds, especially fine cattle, Mr. Renick was appointed an agent of the Ross county importing society to proceed to England and obtain supplies from the best herds in that country for subsequent sale in Ohio.  Accompanied by Dr. Watts, of Chillicothe, he discharged the duties of this trust with such good judgment as to receive the formal thanks of the society upon his return, besides a present of one of the cattle he had imported.  He served two terms as county commissioner, often held positions in connection with the school  boards, and was at one time tendered the nomination as representative of the county, but declined the honor.  He was intensely patriotic during the civil war and rendered valuable aid to the Union cause, personally enlisting many soldiers, besides furnishing two of his own sons to the army.  His death occurred July 13, 1872, and few men have left to their posterity a more stainless name or the example of a more useful live.  Felix, second son of George W. and Harriet (McConnell) Renick, was born in Scioto township Feb. 14, 1841, and grew up on his father's farm.  In early life he was engaged in the grocery business at Massieville for a short time and later for several years in the lumber business near Rochester, Ind., but his principal occupation has  been farming.  He was just twenty years old when the sullen mutterings of the storm which foreboded the civil war were heard throughout the land.  A patriot himself and the son of a patriot, he lost no time in becoming one of the grand army of the republic which was then hurriedly marshaling to save the Union from destruction.  Mr. Renick enlisted in Company B, Twenty-sixth regiment Ohio infantry, and served two years with this command.  The principal engagement in which he participated was the great battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, fought between the armies of Grant and Albert Sidney Johnston.  He took part, also, in many skirmishes and minor engagements which, through considered small during the great war between the States, would have passed as heavy battles in many other wars.  Mr. Renick's half-brother, John McClean Renick, was lieutenant of Company M, First Ohio cavalry, and died while in service at Corinth, Miss., in 1862.  In 1866, Felix Renick was married to Mary E., daughter of Charles and Martha (Robinson) White, of Athens, Ohio.  Her father and the parents of her mother, Joseph and Jane (Simpson) Robinson, were natives of England, the last mentioned settling in Athens county in the pioneer period.  Mr. and Mrs. Renick have two children: Ora J. and Henry Felix.  Mr. Renick is a member of A. L Brown post, No. 161, Grand Army of the Republic, at Chillicothe.  The family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 655-657