Thomas J Rentfro, 1839–?>
- Name
- Thomas J /Rentfro/
- Given names
- Thomas J
- Surname
- Rentfro
Birth
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2FC18B7CD4494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16288 |
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Death of a mother
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2F33FB7A94494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16271 |
Marriage
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Unique identifier: 561189074652933934494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:FF4566 |
Death of a father
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2F1D7B7A44494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16268 |
Death of a son
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2F1D7B7A44494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16268 |
Death of a sister
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2D72BB7614494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16227 |
Burial of a sister
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2D7AFB7624494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16228 |
Reference Number
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2FCC8B7D04494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16290 Shared note: 6691 |
Birth of a daughter
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Unique identifier: 561188DE303DDB7EE4494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16305 |
Birth of a son
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2FF18B7DA4494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16295 |
Birth of a son
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2F164B7A34494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16267 |
Birth of a son
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Unique identifier: 561188DE302F0B7EA4494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16303 |
Birth of a daughter
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2FE2CB7D64494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16293 |
Birth of a daughter
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Unique identifier: 561188DE304CCB7F24494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16307 |
Birth of a daughter
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Unique identifier: 561188DE30029B7DE4494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16297 |
Birth of a son
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Unique identifier: 561188DE30205B7E64494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16301 |
Birth of a son
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Unique identifier: 561188DE3011AB7E24494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16299 |
Death
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Unique identifier: 561188DE2FC46B7CE4494FC262BEB6D4
Record ID number: MH:IF16289 |
Record ID number
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elder sister |
1834–1921
Birth: March 2, 1834
— Johnson Co, IL Death: August 28, 1921 — of senility, Johnson Co, IL |
5 years
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sister |
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brother |
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sister |
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brother |
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brother |
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himself | |
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wife | |
Marriage | Marriage — about 1868 — Johnson Co, IL |
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Reference Number |
Shared note
6691 |
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Shared note
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Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin Counties Illinois; Biographical Publishing Company, 1893, Chicago. Thomas J. Rentfro, who is numbered among the farmers whose industry and practical knowledge of farming have so largely contributed to the growth of Johnson County, is comfortably situated on his farm on section 28, Grantsburg Township. He was born on the 6th of March 1839, in one of the early pioneer homes in the township, a son of William S. Rentfro, who was a native of Tennessee. His father's education was conducted in subscription schools, which he could not attend very often, however, as his parents were poor. They came to this State prior to 1840, making the journey by water, and were among the first settlers of Grantsburg Township, locating on a heavily timbered tract of land on section 28, building a rude cabin of logs for a dwelling. In a short time a better house was built of timber sawed with a whipsaw. The trees that were not used for lumber or fence-rails were burned to get them out of the way. The family led a primitive life, subsisting mostly on home products, varied by game, such as deer and wild turkeys, which were plentiful, and even bears and wolves prowled in the forests, and a panther was seen occasionally. There were no schools, churches or mills near, and settlements were few and scattering. The grandfather of our subject built the first horse-power mill for grinding corn in his neighborhood. William Rentfro lived with his parents, helping them in their pioneer task of hewing out a farm from the forests, until he was twenty-one, and then began his independent career, and as an initial step towards the making of a home, selected a wife in the person of Miss Ruth Blanton, who was from Tennessee, where her parents lived and died. She was a true helpmate in every sense of the word, and walked faithfully by his side until her untimely death parted them in 1866. He survived her until 1876, continuing on the old place until the last, and thus passed away one who had witnessed much of the growth of the county, and had aided in its development from the wilderness. His last resting place is on land which was once his own. He and his good wife reared a family of nine children, namely: Stephen C., a resident of Metropolis; William B., deceased; Hannah B., widow of B. Pyland; F. A., a resident of Grantsburg; Thomas J.; Sarah Jane, deceased; Rufus J., a resident of Texas; Elizabeth, wife of Robert Fitch, who lives on the old home place; and R. Taben, deceased. The subject of this biography was educated in subscription schools, and was well trained to farm work on the old farm, where he remained, assisting in its cultivation, until he was nearly thirty years old. He then married Miss Nancy A. Howell, a native of Johnson County, her people being among its early settlers, and to her active co-operation he is much indebted for the prosperity that he enjoys. They were blessed with the following children: Rutha Jane, deceased; William S., a resident of Johnson County; Joshua A., at home with his parents; Nellie and Donnie, deceased; Sidney B., Charlie, Zell and Lura, at home with their parents. The children are being given good educations in the public schools, which they attend regularly. |