William Renfro

     William Renfro was born on 9 April 1788 at Davidson County, North Carolina. He was the son of James Renfro and Charity Huff. William Renfro married, at age 18, Nancy VanBebber, age 18, daughter of John VanBebber and Margaret Chrisman, on Thursday, 20 November 1806. William Renfro died on 16 July 1868 at age 80 years, 3 months and 7 days.
     From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Margie Demory, comp., 'William Renfro,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 10 (August 2002), pp. 2 - 3.

WILLIAM RENFRO

'William Renfro, son of Charity Ann and James Renfro, was born in Davidson County, Tennessee near the town of Madison on April 9, 1788.

William was raised on his father's farm but apparently was never satisfied with farm life. The fact that he would shirk his farm work whenever possible and spend his time tinkering with his father's tools, led to much dissension and finally his father decided he was little use on the farm and allowed him to go to Nashville, about 15 miles away, and become an apprentice to a carpenter. This was in 1803 when he was 15 years old. After he completed his apprenticeship he worked as a carpenter in Nashville.

In that period an apprentice was obligated to the man who accepted him for training for a term of five years. For the duration of the apprenticeship contract, the master tradesman was responsible for housing, food, and clothing for the apprentice as well as paying him a small wage. The builder and carpenter that William was apprenticed to was a friend of his fathers by the name of Van Bibber.

While living in the Van Bibber home he came into close contact with the builders daughter, Nancy, who was three months younger than William, an this soon developed into romance.

When he was 18, both their parents agreed to their marriage and the event took place on November 20, 1806. After their marriage they continued to live with her parents as William still had two years to serve of his apprenticeship. Nancy was born in Tennessee on July 22, 1788.

After William completed his time as an apprentice in 1808 he continued to work for his father-in-law until 1810. That year his father decided to sell his holdings in Tennessee and move to Girard county, Kentucky and William and Nancy moved with him. In Kentucky he found work as a carpenter in the town of Mount Vernon which is in the Renfro Valley where his father bought land and where his grandfather and other relatives lived.

Nancy and William had a large family consisting of 8 girls and 5 boys. I was not able to find the names of his daughters but his boys were as follows: John, born in 1813, James C., born in 1816, William, born in 1820, Kilburn, born in 1825, and Houston, born in 1827.

In 1820, his father sold his holdings in Girrard County and moved to Bell County where he purchased large land holdings as well as several businesses. Again William and Nancy followed his parents in their move.

In Bell County he worked for his father in the businesses he had purchased. In addition to doing the necessary carpenter work he took charge of the tollgate on the Wilderness Road and the ferry across the Cumberland River. His brother, James, operated his father's ranch holdings.

In 1835, when his father was killed in an accident, William was disappointed to find that his younger brother, James, had inherited the bulk of his father's property. His father apparently never forgave him for the fact that he had no interest in farming and had left the farm when young to become a carpenter. James, who was 13 years younger, was interested in farming and had always worked his father's farming interests. While their father, in later years, had other business interests, he was at heart a farmer and he spent most of his life farming.

All William was allowed in the will was a stipulation that 1,500 dollars be used to purchase a farm for him, that was already agreed upon. When this was done and William had the deed to the property, he immediately sold the property and using the money purchased a home in the town of Pineville and went to work as a carpenter. He severed all relationship with his brother and refused to assist his stepmother in the operation of the tollgate which she had inherited.

He followed his trade in Pineville until 1855 when his wife, Sarah, died on July 16, at the age of 67. He then sold his home and moved to Trenton, Missouri and lived with his son, Houston, until his death on July 16, 1868 at the age of 72.'

Lest We Forget, by John C. and Betty Ladd -- Chapter #5

Note: John C. Ladd was the husband of Betty Jean Demory, a 2nd great granddaughter of William Renfro and Nancy VanBebber. John and Betty started their family research in the late 1970's and traveled to various states. The above information on William Renfro came from a small book titled Lest We Forget which they put a lot of time and effort, and gave out to various members of the family. The book was written in a very narrative form, but listed no specific sources of documentation.
From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Rebecca Parsley, comp., 'Letter of James Renfro to His Son William,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 4 No. 10 (August 2001), pp. 14 - 16.

LETTER OF JAMES RENFRO TO HIS SON WILLIAM
DATED APRIL 30, 1835

Son William:

Nothing very interesting transpired since you left us. We have had a long cold winter since Febry commenced, say till 20th inst, more so than common. But we have weathered through so far as yet.

No deaths among the friends as yet occurred. Myself has bad cold and cough ever since first of December with but little intermission so that I almost despired of seeing grasse rise. But through the tender mercies of kind and benevolent Providence (whose goodmess and mercy has followed me all the days of my life) I am yet on pleading ground and last week was able to ride to Old Town Creek to a very comfortable meeting at that place. Nearly all the people in the vicinity are serious and apparently for the better. Many have joined the church, among whom are your Aunt Jerusha Lee, Thos. Norville with many others. Uncle Tommy and Gibson are expected to follow. Sister Jerusha, Walter and Polly Moss I think are among the seekers. It would do my poor heart good and make it rejoice if I could hear the good news of all my children embracing the religion of Jesus and submit to the mild septer of King Immanuel. My son, pray don't neglect the one thing needful, tis of the utmost importance--good in time, good in eternity, good to live on, good to die on. This world with all its allurements is not to be put in comparison with a saving interest in the Redeemer's righteousness and I assure my propensities and desires after worldy possessions has very much abated by considersing their uncertain and unsatisfying nature and do pray that my last days may be my best days and that I may pass through earth with my heart and hopes fixed on Heaven. I do most heartily covet and try to pray you and all yours may so improve the precious seed time, that so Eternity may yield a joyful harvest to you and your little ones. But tis hope against hope. When I consider your dear little children will take their first impressions of their infantile minds and are sure to get a set and bias (which you may observe in nearly all families the case from the mother that tis almost impossible to eradicate or remove.) But I hope your philisophical mind will spare the pains to cultivate sound and good principles clear of affectation and duplicity for I do expect your children are as near to you as mine are to me, which are like the apple of the eye--and which I have been uncommonly blessed with and whom I attribute took their set from the mother and but small assistance from me.

It makes me feel grateful to hear it often remarked that such a family of daughters was scarcely known to be raised by one mother, and my sons no complaint only that they were not business men as their sisters are. My dear little Sallie Ann is a very promising daughter and you may be sure its mother spares no pains to install in the tender mind principles of virtue and domestic habits.

We live comfortable and happy as can be. No jars or contradictions is allowed and my dear little Dorcas is so kind, affectionate and attentive that if she thought one of her eyes would add anything to my comfort it would not be withheld. So that our enjoyments are sweet and contentment is ever our guest so far as earthly things concern us. This day preparing for a four-day meeting at Barbourville which commences this day. A number of preaching brethren are expected. I must be off shortly or be too date for first day.

Son James is gone at this time to catch fish at B. Herndon's, mouth of Laurel. Ben has got his saw and gristmill at work, promises himself great incomes. Has a town laid out and lots are to be sold in the town of (?). Two steamboats are to navigate shortly. Sam Hogan has been to look out a country to move to since Feby last. Took with him 3 or 4 negroes to sell. Has sold his farm but Charity is still living in it yet. All well. This trip I expect will finish Hogan's building castle. We look for him middle of next month or last. Bob Gibson doing right well. Got near a hundred steers. Many of them will be for sale next fall. Sue Ruth Snaugger for saying he stole one of her yearlings. John Wallen, the same or worse, drinking all he can get. He, I am told, is sure of the recovery of John Hardy's place. Two better titles than Hardy's. He orders his wife off every few days when drinking. I don't know but she will have to leave him for she at times in danger of her life and is the only support of him and James Wallen. Uncle Daniel much the same. Moss, they tell me, is likely to get through his difficulties, don't drink any hardly of the accursed poison. I hope my son; you have seen the evil and abandoned it. L. Johnson and James still doing small business at their place. Olivia has another son. John Word about the same. I don't know how Burch is doing, still a little I believe. Your son Milton crops with Geo. Fletcher I am told. John Hendrickson bought old Feltcher's place. John Miller lives on it this summer. Your sister Jane keeps about as usual. Rides to meetings and where she pleases, is right good manager.

Should like to hear your prospects and how well you like MO. I feel very much interested in your welfare, not only in time but Eternity and hope you may be pleased with the country and a settlement advantageous for yourself and family was my particular reason for being willing for your moving so far from us while I was living whom I very much doubt will you hardly ever see me more in time for I fail and get weaker very year and my change must shortly come.

I want you continue your good name. Never give way to intoxicating drink. I am fraidest of any temporal calamity. How many it has ruined and never fails to destroy when made to free with. Not a drop enters my lips. Keep clear of debt, which is hard for you to do except a firm and determined resolution. You have so large and expensive family proud with all and but little help to you soon as they get of size to do you any service they must depart. I was always averse to being in debt. I was surprised when James came home and told me the money you had to bear your expenses in moving and posted him off next morning with what we could raise for you for I had thought you surely had four or five hundred dollars to take with you and truly out of humor to think to your buying so many horses which I thought bad policy. When I moved to Tennessee, one wagon and four horses was all I was able to get and had more to move with than I expect you had to carry, but I hope if you don't manage pretty well the plantation you sold Word will slip through your fingers and you will hardly know how or what became of it. Your corn I am told did not measure as well as was expected. James got none. Burch got none and I don't know how Skeltoin came out. I can hardly write inteligible, but remain

Your loving father,
James Renfro

NOTES from Rebecca Parsley: James Renfro died just three months after writing this letter July 29, 1835. Someone brought him a rock containing a nugget of silver which had been found somewhere on his land. He mounted his horse, took a young black boy with him and set off during a thunderstorm to search for Swift's silver mine. The family legend is that he, the boy, and the horse were all killed by a falling branch of a tree but it seems most likely that lightning struck the tree and/or James, the boy and the horse. All three were killed. James was buried in the family plot where his house stood at Cumberland Ford, later the site of the Gibson house. A small park is now at that site with a marker for the site of Cumberland Ford. James, Charity and Mary (Polly), their daughter, all had tombstones at that site. They were later removed to the Pineville Cemetery by Ray B. Moss, where they stand today, with the addition of modern markers with the same information as the old markers. In the small park at Cumberland Ford, there are numerous sandstone markers, which are for the slaves, none of which have any inscriptions. The park was donated to the city of Pineville by Valerie Saunders, a descendant of the Gibsons.

William Renfro was born 4/9/1788 and married on 11/20/1806 to Nancy VanBibber. Jerucia Renfro was daughter of James and Charity (Huff) Renfro. She married John Wallen. The other Jerusha, referred to in letter, as Aunt Jerusha Lee was a Huff--related to Charity Huff. The Dorcas referred to was wife #2.