bh35

RENFROW, R.S.,   teacher and farmer, P. O. Mill Shoals, was born September 17, 1843, in Jackson, Miss.

His father, Redin Renfrow, was a native of Kentucky, and a farmer by occupation. He died during the great epidemic in 1848, in New Orleans. The grandfather of our subject was Joseph Renfrow, a native of North Carolina. He was also a farmer.

The mother of our subject was Nancy (Smith) Renfrow, born in August. 1811. She is yet living, and is the mother of seven children, of whom four are now living, viz., Sarah J. Staley, Josephine, Thomas J. and Robert S., our subject, who was educated in this county and at McLeansboro, Ill. In the spring of 1862, he, in company with Thomas Grant and family, went West to Pike's Peak, Colo., where he farmed one year. and then to what was then called Idaho, but is now a part of Montana. Here he mined with varied sucees for several years, and then teamed for some time, after which he returned to the home of his childhood, via the Missouri River from the head of navigation to St. John's, Iowa. A. part of the distance was full of adventures, having one of their number killed by lurking: Indians. The distance from St. John's to his home was accomplished mostly by railroad. He was welcomed back by his friends after an absence of five and one-half years. Since then, he has taught school a great deal of the time, teaching the last thirteen years, but mostly in the winter in this and Clark Counties, while he cultivates his farm of fifty acres in the summer.

He was married, February 23, 1873, near Fairfield, to Miss Sallie Todd, born April 22, 1855, in Kentucky. She is a daughter of Dr. C. T. Todd and Susan (Reynolds) Todd. Four children now living have blessed this happy union, viz., Benjamin L., born October 9, 1874; Maggie Myrtle, born January 28, 1877; Frank Mc., born May 4, 1879, and Lulu Bell, born September 13, 1881.

Mr. and Mrs. Renfrow are members of the Christian Church, of which be is an Elder. He is also an A., F. & A. M., Burnt Prairie Lodge, No. 668. He has held the offices of Town Clerk and Police Magistrate in White County, and at present is Township School Treasurer. In politics, he is a Republican.