John H. Rench (1823-1907)

RENCH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 3/26/2022 at 17:20:49

John Henry Rench
(October 14, 1823 – April 18, 1907)

Well known in connection with agricultural pursuits in Calhoun County. John Henry Rench has throughout his business career carried on general farming, and his life illustrates what it is possible to accomplish through earnest, persistent effort. He was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. October 14, 1823, a son of Thomas and Jane (Hamilton) Rench, both of whom were natives of
the Keystone state. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Rench. was also born in
Pennsylvania and was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Harshman, a native of Virginia. He was a miller and farmer following the dual occupation in order to provide for his family. The greater part of his life was passed in Maryland but long since he has passed away. Thomas Rench, the father of our subject, was born on the 7th of March, 1790, and for many years followed farming in the Keystone state, but spent his last days in Indiana. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812 and died October 31, 1849, in Indiana, while his wife, whose birth occurred June 26, 1799, passed away in Indiana on the 11th of December, 1865, at the age of sixty-six years.
During his early boyhood John H. Rench became a resident of Indiana and there he acquired his education. The occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work, having always followed farming and the lessons of industry which he learned in his youth have since proved an important element in his career. It was in the year 1857 that he arrived in Iowa, first settling in Dubuque County, where he rented a farm upon which he resided for twenty years. With each season he began the work of plowing and planting and when autumn came he reaped the harvests that crowned his labors. Little by little he gained a competence, showing that his work was not without result. Removing from Dubuque to Sac County, Iowa, he remained in the latter place until 1892 when he came to Calhoun County and purchased his present farm in Garfield Township. Here he has eighty acres of land and his two sons each have one hundred and twenty acres, so that their aggregate possessions cover a half section. The father and sons are associated in their farming operations and are successfully engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of Hereford cattle, of which they have a herd of from twenty-five to thirty head. They are all men of good business ability in the line of their chosen work and their labors are crowned with prosperity. Their corn fields cover about one hundred acres, while from seventy-five to eighty acres are planted to small grain. The brothers now carry on stock feeding and general threshing. They have conducted a threshing-outfit ever since they were boys.
In Fayette County, Indiana, on the 1st of December, 1853, Mr. Rench was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Campbell, a daughter of John and Mahala (Wiley) Campbell, who were natives of Virginia and both were born in 1796. Her father was a well-to-do farmer and for many years resided in the Hoosier state. He reached the very advanced age of ninety-three years and his wife departed this life at the age of seventy-nine years. They were the parents of
seven children, including Mrs. Rench, who was born in Union County, Indiana, June 22. 1832. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children: Adella M., who was born September 17, 1854, and is the wife of George Hooper, a resident of Cherokee County, Iowa; Charles D., who was born June 15, 1856, and resides on the home farm; Albert D., a farmer of this county, who was born March 31, 1858, and married Cora Churchill, by whom he has five children : Howard, Winnefred, Florence, Laney and Vivian; Florence A., who was born April 15, 1860, became the wife of Wilbur Kidder, of Dubuque County, by whom she had one daughter. Fanny S., and died September 10. 1882; Henry T., who was born December 11, 1863, and farms on the old home place, where he lives with his wife, Mrs. Augusta (Strain) Rench, and their three children: Hazel, Methia and Harry; Wilber H., who was born December 31, 1865, and lives on a farm in Warren County, Iowa, with his wife, Mrs. Addie (Bodkins) Rench, and their four children, Berdie. Vera, Ulah and Viltie; Mahala J., who was born December 24, 1868, and is the wife of William B. Batie, a farmer of Sac County, Iowa, by whom she has six children — Lewis, Thomas. Mattie, Eliza, Johnnie and Helen; Fannie S., who was born August 11. 1871, and is the wife of Frank Smith, of Muscatine, Iowa, by whom she has two children: Hazel and Katie: Daniel W., who was born December 22. 1874, and died in infancy. Of the family Charles D. has served for four years as township trustee and is the present incumbent in the office, while Henry T. has been road overseer for three years.
John Henry Rench has almost reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey. His is an honored old age for his life has been passed in such a manner as to bring him the unqualified esteem and respect of all with whom he has associated. His life is well worthy of emulation for it shows forth the power of industry and integrity. He has been straightforward in all his dealings,
reliable, resolute and enterprising and today he has a very comfortable income which is the reward of his former toil. The family is one of prominence, meriting the warm regard in which they are uniformly held. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.268]