The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-10-04

!, Renfrow or this county, ana IA
known by many OF the older citi.
zens.-(Howell Co Mo-, Gazette.)
u One of the most familiar charac-
ters around West Plains is william
Renfrow, aged 90 years. who is the
Oldest man in Howell county. Two
or three times week Mr.. Renfrow
comes to town from his farm two
miles south Of this city. driving his
faithful family horse to a buggy and
bringing a can of cream to market.
He always comes alone, and attends
to all his business affairs like a
man Of much younger years.
Born September z, 1890, in But
Ter county, Kentucky, Mr.. Renfrow
came from family of French
descent. His father was from
Georgia and his mother from North
Carolina. They were married at
Hopkinsville, KY, and both died In
Butler county, Kentucky. Their
graves are a few feet from the spot
where William Renfrow was born.
For SO years Mr.. Renfrow has re-
sided on the farm where he now
makes his home, miles southwest
OF West Plains. He has been mar
ried twice His first marriage was
in 1857 to Miss America Phelps of
Butler county, Kentucky, who died
here in 1877. In 1888 he was mar
ried at this place to Miss Belle
Fitzpatrick, who is his present COM
panion.
Mr.. Relfrow is the father OF
fourteen children, six by his first
wife and eight by his preseRt wife.
All of them are living. He also has
% grandchildren, together with
countless other relatives.
The children of Mr.. Renfrow, in
the consecutive order in which they
were born, are as follows: Mrs.
John w. Bingaman, Mrs. T. IL.
feathers, V. p. Renfrow, West
Plains; Webb p Renfrow, Pueblo,
Colo; T. NJ. Renfrow, Miss Julia
Renfrow, West Plains; VIII Rem
frow, Oil City, Okla; Mrs. John
feathers, Earl, Ark; Mrs. Bessie
Dunaway, Villa Grove, ILL.,; Mrs.
Jud Monger, Eldorado, Kan; Mrs.
Seth Wright, Oil Hill, Kan; Mrs.
Earl Scott, Madison. Kan; Miss
Lucy Renfrow and Mrs. N. Citizens,
West Plains.
Mr.. Renfrow is q devout member
of the Christian church. He. was
made a Freemason early in life in
Kentucky and has always taken a
keen interest in the order. Politi-
calIy Mr.. Renfrnw is al ardent
Democrat OF the Old Jenersonan
tyre.
Three years ago Mr.. Renfrow
went back to his old Kentucky
home, accompanied by two of his
sons. He pointed out to them the
spot where he was born, now mark
ed by the white corner stones of
the cabins foundation. A few feet
away was the family cemetery
where his ancestors lie and in the
distance the beautiful hills along
Green river.
Mr. Renfrow bias always been in
good health Al the age of 30 years
his hearing began to fail and ten
years ago ne became tota ly deaf.
Today no is as Lively and cheerful
as he was az the age OF fifty. He
has led an eventiul life.
Several years ago Mr., Renfrow
was in a runaway and had mar
row escape from death. He got
well and in short time was back
at work on his fine valley farm.
Last year Mr.. Renfrow was the
victim of an enraged bull that at
tackled him in the barn yard. A
man passing came TO the aged
farmers rescue and drove away the
bull, which had gored Mr.. Renfrow
For several days his life hung in the
balance, but he got well.
Mr.. Renfrow is a most interest
ing character and Is widely known.
His sons and daughters are promin-
entity identified in business and So
cial circles in the communities
where they reside. He has lived TO
see this country grow from a wilder
ness 10 "a wonderful city and pro-
ductivo country and he bids fair to
live to be 100 years old.