RENICK, Gasper - Putnam

RENICK, GASPER, P. O. Greencastle, Carriage Manufacturer; native of Washington County; settled in this county in 1851.

GASPER RENICK,of the firm of Renick & Curtis, carriage manufactures, at Greencastle, was born on a farm in Washington County, this State, December 8, 1825. At the age of sixteen years he went to Walnut Ridge, same county, and became apprenticed to D. & N. Platt, to learn the trade of carriage making, serving five and a half years. He received alimited education in the district schools, attending only during the wintermonths.in 1846 he went to Salem, Washington County, where he worked atjourney work two years with the exception of a short time spent in TerreHaute.in the fall of 1849 he went to Waveland, Montgomery County, where he worked until September, 1850, then came to Greencastle and became associatedwith his brothers, Robert and Henry, in the manufacture of carriages, under the firm name of G. H. & R. Renick. They erected a shop on Washington street, upon ground now occupied by the Catholic school building.in 1856James A. Curtis succeeded Henry, changing the name to Renick, Curtis & Com., and in March, 1886, Robert retired from the firm and it was changed to Renick & Curtis. During 1886-'87 Mr. Curtis erected the extensive shop and wareroom they now occupy on Washington street, directly opposite the old shop in which they operated so long. Politically Mr. Renick is a Republican, and has served several terms as member of the city council at Greencastle. January 2, 1853, he was married, at Greencastle, to Miss Lydia Jane Thornburg,daughter of William H. Thornburg, who was born and reared in Greencastle, andeducated in the Larabee's School for Ladies at that place. Six childrenwere born to them, three of whom are living--William II., an employe in hisfather's shop; Harry Grant, of St. Louis, and George G., also an employe in his father's manufactory. Mr. Renick is a Master Mason and member of Temple Lodge, No. 47, A. F. & A. M., at Greencastle. He has held the position of treasurer of the lodge for nine consecutive years and still holds that office. His father, Henry Renick, was born near Springfield, Ohio, in 1797, of Welsh parentage. He came to Indiana in 1818, settling on a farmin Washington County, thence to Clay County, 1852, where he died in 1883. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed it through life. His mother, Catherine [Clemens] Renick, was a native of Virginia, born in 1793. She married Mr. Renick in Ohio, in 1817, and died in Clay County, Indiana in 1855. They were the parents of ten children, only six of whom are living--two in Greencastle and four in various places in Illinois. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.