My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT FOUNTAIN RENICK owns and operates a desirable farm located on section 15, township 47, range 27, Johnson County, and his handsome residence has as fine a location as any house in the county. The owner has given a large share of his attention to stock-raising, and has met with success in his enterprises.

A native of Missouri, our subject was born in Lafayette County, January 15, 1837, being one of eight children, only four of whom survive. The parents were Andrew E. and Sabina (Livesay) Renick, the former of whom was born in Ohio about 1804, and reared on a farm. Soon after becoming of age, he went to Greenbrier County, Va., and several years later, about 1830, moved to Lafayette County, Mo. In 1835 he settled near to the county line of Johnson County, one of his fences forming the boundary at that point. In time he became one of the foremost farmers of that region, and made a specialty of the cattle business. When his cattle were ready for market he would drive them to Ohio, being compelled to swim them across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. During the Mexican War he obtained a contract to furnish beef for the army as a sub-contractor, and in this venture made a large sum of money. In 1852, while on a trip to St. Louis with some cattle, he was stricken down with cholera and died at St. Charles. His son Robert, then a boy of fourteen years, had accompanied him, but he escaped the dread disease, and on his father’s death took charge of his money, some $3,000. He was a long distance from home, but got back safely by riding fifty miles a day, at the same time leading a riderless horse. The senior Mr. Renick was of a very kindly and generous disposition, and gathered around him a host of stanch friends here.

R. F. Renick received his education in the old-time subscription schools. He early commenced herding cattle, and spent some time on the plains in the Government employ as a freighter. He was appointed Assistant Wagon Boss, the importance of which position may be estimated from the fact that there were thirty wagons in the train, and an attack by the Indians was liable to occur at any time. On one occasion, some stock had wandered away from camp, and young Renick, mounting a mule, followed what he supposed to be their trail, but which proved to be otherwise. He passed through an Indian country, and after finding out that he was lost, started to rejoin his companions, covering a distance of one hundred and eight miles in one day. After his return home he worked on a farm until the war broke out.

June 15, 1861, our subject enlisted in the Missouri State Guards, C. S. A., General Raines’ division, Waterman’s brigade, and served there until mustered into the First Brigade, Fourth Missouri Infantry. M. F. Cockrell was his brigade commander, Maj.-Gen. S. G. French division commander, and Gen. L. Polk commander of the corps. Mr. Renick was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company H, serving as such until his Captain’s death, a year later, when he took charge of the company. During his long and arduous service he took part in the following battles: Oak Hills, Elkhorn, Corinth, Iuka, Baker’s Creek and Vicksburg. In the Georgia campaign he had three months of almost steady fighting, being in the engagements at Altoona, Franklin, Grand Gulf and Lexington. Seven times during this period he was wounded, twice at Corinth, at Sugar Creek, Baker’s Creek, Vicksburg and at Franklin. At the last-named place he was captured and confined in the penitentiary at Nashville, thence being transferred to Louisville, and finally to Ft. Delaware, where he was released after the surrender of the army. From his last wound he has suffered most severely, and is frequently laid up for days from its effects. At the beginning of the siege of Vicksburg he was standing at one of the portholes looking at the Federals; a second later, Lieutenant Cooper stepped up behind him, and, placing his hands on Mr. Renick’s shoulders, awaited his turn to peep at the enemy. The Colonel shouted to our subject not to expose himself, and the latter quickly drew his head aside. On the instant, a bullet sped through the porthole, striking Lieutenant Cooper in the face and killing him. The following day the Confederates were not allowed to leave the ditches, but had their rations served to them there. Mr. Renick and Lieutenant Lewis were in the habit of eating from the same plate, and here did as usual. After seating themselves to enjoy their meal of peas, a shell fell into the ditch within three or four feet of them and, bursting, tore the poor Lieutenant literally to pieces, while our subject marvelously escaped without a scratch. During the Georgia campaign, Mr. Renick was sitting under the shelter of a blanket, supported by poles, in company with Capt. Sam Kennerly and two other companions. Being thirsty, he rose to get a drink from his canteen about twenty steps away, and had hardly reached the spot when a shell exploded in the midst of the little group he had just left, killing them all instantly. In an engagement he had a spy-glass shot from his hand, and a short time afterward another was shot to pieces in his pocket, and he concluded to leave spy-glasses alone in the future.

For four years after he had returned home from the war, Mr. Renick assisted in the management of the home farm. Subsequently he moved to his present home, where he has since continuously resided. February 13, 1868, he was united in marriage with Mary Wallace, daughter of Allen and Ann (Dinwiddle) Wallace, natives of Illinois and Kentucky, respectively. Our subject and his estimable wife have two daughters, Fannie W. and Anna H., both accomplished young ladies.

Politically Mr. Renick has always lent his support to the Democracy. He and his family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and contribute both money and time to its various departments of activity.