My Genealogy Hound

JAMES KRAMER RENNER, son of John R. and Elizabeth (Kramer) Renner, was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where his parents at that time resided. James attended the public schools of the vicinity until his sixteenth year. In the meantime he was working on the farm during the school term at intervals and in vacations, which were much longer than they are at the present time. When there was no work to be done at home he hired with neighboring farmers. At the age of eighteen years he engaged with Samuel Englemeyer to learn the carpenter trade, remaining with him for two years. He then returned to farming and was employed by Joseph L. Heebner, at Norritonville, for three years. Later he worked for Henry Metz, of Franconia, and then for Elias Kooker, of Worcester, for one year.

Mr. Renner married Susan, daughter of Mahlon Van Heist, of Worcester township. After his marriage he removed to Hatfield township, near Lansdale, and was employed for some time in the machine works of David S. Heebner & Sons. He also assisted his father-in-law on his farm in Worcester township for four years, renting it and operating it for a dairy for four years. He then removed to Skippackville, where he was for two years on a rented farm of fifty acres, operating it as a dairy. He rented several farms in succession, including that of John Bean, and also the farm of Henry Frick, in Whitpain township, where he remained for five years. He also rented the Reinhart farm, near Narcissa. After one year on the farm of Francis J. Houston, near Ambler, and some time spent at Montgomery Square, Mr. Renner became a tenant on the “Evergreen Farm” of William M. Singerly, in Upper Gwynedd, near North Wales, now owned by Thomas P. Greger. He next tenanted the farm of Dr. Kunkle at Fort Washington, formerly the Eberhard Flues farm, and returned in 1901 to the “Evergreen Farm,” which he operates as a dairy, and in conjunction with his son manages the Davis Farm also, the first containing ninety-seven acres and the other 118 acres, or 215 acres in all. In politics Mr. Renner is a Republican, and has always supported the nominees of that party.

John Renner (father) was the son of Adam Renner, John Renner was a farmer and stone mason. He married, in youth, Elizabeth Kramer, and had a family of nine children, as follows: Simon, married Hannah Frederick, and resides at Souderton; Sarah, married James Snyder and resides in Rockhill township; William, married Sarah Hunsicker, and resides at Perkasie; Elizabeth, married William B. Woodward, of Franconia; Noel, married Kate Brooks; Amanda; James K., subject of this sketch; Katharine; and John, married Mary Alexandrew.

Mahlon Van Heist, father of Mrs. Renner, was raised on a farm and attended the district school. He followed farming all his life. He married Catherine, daughter of Isaac and Susan (Heebner) Cassel, of Norriton township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Their children: John Cassel, married Rachel Snyder, who died, and married (second wife) Martha Hallman, of Evansburg, and resides in Worcester township; Mary C., married Charles Lownes, and resides at Randolph Hotel, Twenty-third and Spring Garden streets, Philadelphia; Susan, wife of Mr. Renner.

The children of James K. and Susan Renner: Clara Emma, born November 8, 1875, died October 31, 1876; Mahlon, born August 29, 1877, married Marion Graham, daughter of James Graham, of Lower Gwynedd, their children being Charles, born February 28, 1899, and James Raymond, born February 24, 1901, and Marion, born May 26, 1903; Mary Catherine, born May 26, 1880, deceased; Lillian Amanda, born July 16, 1882, died August 21, 1897; Susan, born March 25, 1886, died young; John Harrison died in childhood.