My Genealogy Hound

PETER CHARLES RENIERS, sculptor, post office Turtle Creek, a native of Antwerp, Belgium, is a son of Cornelius Joseph and Mary Reniers, and was born March 28, 1825. He was educated in his native city, Brussels and Paris, where he gave special attention to art. In 1848 he contracted to execute some sculpture for Bishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, and set out for America. He was so pleased with the scenery about New York harbor that he resolved never to return to his native land, and has kept the resolution. In 1850, having finished his work in Cincinnati, he came to Pittsburgh, where he has since remained in business. In addition to monumental work he gives attention to interior decoration and furnishing, and is now engaged in fitting up the magnificent Westinghouse building on Penn avenue. In 1868 Mr. Reniers purchased ground at Turtle Creek, on which he erected his present home, in which are some superior frescoes. Part of these decorations were destroyed by a meteoric ball which burst in the hallway one summer afternoon. Mrs. Reniers and her youngest son were in the hall at the time, but escaped unhurt. In religious ideas Mr. Reniers is very liberal. He married Hannah Armitage, a native of Huddersfield, England, who has borne him the following-named children: Cornelius (a resident of New York city), Mary, Fanny (deceased), Alice (Mrs. William Bentley, Pittsburgh), Thomas and William. The last two are assisting their father in business. Mr. Reniers is a democrat.