Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/79

 RENCHER

RENO

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RENCHER, Abraham, statesman, was born in Wake county, N.C., Aug. 13, 1798; son of John Grant and Ann (Nelson) Renclier, His father came to America from Ireland, and was for many years high sherilf of Wake county, and his mother was a near relative of Lord Nel- son. He was gradu- ated from the Uni- versity of North Car- olina in 1822, received the degree of A.M. in 1831, and having ob- tained a license he formed a law co-part- nership with Francis Lister Hawks (q.v.). He made liis home in Pittsboro and soon rose to distinction. He was a WJiig rep- resentative in the 21st-2.'5th congresses, 1829-39, and in the 27th congress, 1841-42, declining re-election to the 26th and 28th congresses on account of ill- health. Under President Tyler's appointment he served as U.S. minister to Portugal, 1843-47. In 1852, as an elector on the Pierce and King ticket, he made a brilliant and effective campaign of the state. He declined the portfolio of the navy offered by President Buchanan, and served as governor of New Mexico, 1857-61. In 1836 he was married to Louisa Mary, daughter of Col. Edward (q.v.) and Elizabeth (Mallett) Jones, granddaughter of Peter and Eunice (Curtis) Mal- lett and great-granddaughter of Jeremiah Curtis of Stratford, Conn. They had four children : John Grant and William Conway both served in the Confederate army ; Sarah married Col. Latham Anderson, U.S.A., and Eva married Robert Winston of Franklinton, N.C. Governor Reiicher died at Chapel Hill. N.C, July 6, 1883. RENFROW, William Gary, governor of Okla- homa, was born in Smithfield, N.C, March 15, 1845 ; son of Perry and Lucinda (Atkinson) Ren- frew, and grandson of William Renfrow and of Cary Atkinson. He served in the Confederate army throughout the civil war, and at its close removed to Jackson county. Ark., where he en- gaged in mercantile business. In 1889 he removed to Norman, Oklahoma Territory, where he was president of the Norman State bank. He was appointed by President Cleveland governor of Oklahoma Territory and served as such from May 7, 1893, to May 24, 1897, when he resumed his banking business in Norman.

RENO, Conrad, lawyer author, was born in Mt. Vernon Arsenal, near Mobile, Ala., Dec. 28, 1859 ; son of Gen. Jesse Lee and Mary Bradley

Blanes (Cross) Reno. He attended the schools of Baltimore, Md., Media, Pa., Lehigh university, and the law department of Harvard, and was graduated from Boston university, LL.B. in 1883. He was admitted to the bar in 1883, and engaged in practice in Boston. He was married, April 13, 1887, to Susan Moore, daughter of the Rev. William T. and Maria (Dwight) Eustis of Spring- field. Mass. He is the author of the industrial court bill, and the industrial partnership bill, intended to reconcile the conflicting interests of employees and stockholders of corporations, and to avert strikes and lockouts, and of : State Regulation of Wages (1891) : Nan- Residents and Foreign Corporations (1892); Employers' Liabi- lity Acts (1896; 2nd ed., 1903); History of the Judicial System of Neio England (1900), and con- tributions to legal and scientific periodicals.

RENO, Jesse Lee, soldier, was born in Wheel- ing, Va., June 20, 1833; son of Lewis Thomas and Rebecca (Quinby) Reno ; grandson of Charles and Francis (Laughlin) Reno, and a descendant of John Renault wlio came to America about 1700. He was appointed to the U.S. Military academy from Pennsylvania, and was graduated there and brevetted 2d lieutenant of ordnance, July 1, 1846. He served as assistant ordnance officer at Watervliet arsenal, N.Y., in 1846 ; took part in the Mexican war, being engaged with the Howitzer battery at the siege of Vera Cruz, March 19-29, 1847, and in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec. He was promoted 2d lieutenant of ordnance, March 3, 1847 : was brevetted 1st lieutenant, April 18, 1847. for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico, and captain, Sept. 13, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Chapultepec, Mexico ; was on special duty at Erie, Pa., in 1848, and assistant professor of mathematics in the U.S. Military academy from January to July, 1849. He was secretary of the board for preparing a '-System of Instruction for Heavy Artillery," 1849-50 ; as- sistant to the ordnance board at Washington Ar- senal, D.C. 1851-53. and on topogi-aphical duty, making a survey of the military road fi-om the mouth of the Big Sioux river to Mendota. I\Iinn., 1853-54. He was married, Nov. 1, 1853, to Mary Bradley Blanes, daughter of Trueman and Eliza (Blanes) Cross of Washington, D.C He was promoted first lieutenant of ordnance, March 3,

1853 ; served on coast survey duty. April to July,

1854 ; as assistant ordnance officer at Frankford Arsenal, Pa., 1854-57; as chief of ordnance on the Utah expedition, 1857-59, and in command of the Mount Vernon Arsenal, Ala., from 1859 until its seizure by the Confederates in January, 1861. He was promoted captain of ordnance. July 1, 1800, for fourteen years' coutuiuous service;