JOHN T. RENNIE, manufacturer, Cairo, was born in Ayr, Scotland, May 20, 1819, where he grew to manhood; and remained until coming to the United States in 1840. Being a blacksmith by trade, he worked at various places in this country before coming to Illinois. He was married, in Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1845, to ]Margaret J. McFarrel, a native of Pennsylvania, but of Irish parentage. She died in Cairo, Ill., in 1876, leaving eight children. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Rennie went South and located in Louisiana, where, until 1852, he carried on a shop; but, owing to the prevalence of the cholera, returned North, and, in 1852, located at Metropolis, in Massac County, Ill. There he engaged in the dry goods business until 1862, when he came to Cairo and established his present business, though on a limited scale. In 1878. he sustained a very severe loss in the destruction by fire of his entire foundry and shops, but rebuilt, and was in active operation in less than one month from the time of the fire, a fact which speaks much for the business energy of Mr. Rennie. His business location is between Eighth and Tenth streets, on the Ohio levee. Family residence on Walnut street. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the I. O. O. F. He was married to his present wife, Jane K. (Davison) Kennedy in June, 1877.
Extracted 31 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 38-39.
| Cape Girardeau MO |
Union | |
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Pulaski | |
| Scott MO | Mississippi MO | Ballard KY |
