David Renfrew |
Mary Kirkpatrick Renfrew |
Butler Co History 1883DAVID RENFREW
The RENFREWs date their ancestry back to Scotland,
from which historic country John RENFREW came to America
in 1774, being then a young man, aged seventeen years.*
He settled on the banks of the Connocochigue Creek, in
Franklin County, State of Pennsylvania, and there built
one of the first gristmills in that section, he having
purchased the land on which it was located in 1778.
This property is still in possession of the RENFREWs
of the fourth generation, and the old stone mill first
erected is still standing.
John RENFREW, who was a Revolutionary soldier, died in 1844
at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He married a Miss
THOMPSON, and they became the parents of five children,
as follows: Robert, Samuel, John, James and Margaret.
*Other more reliable documents believe He was born in Franklin Co, PA to Samuel Renfrew of Scotland Samuel Renfrew came in possession of the above property, and lived there until his death in 1854, while in his fifty-sixth year. He married Hannah Ann LINDSEY, who departed this life in 1821. He married Margaret ANDREW for his second wife, and they became the parents of one child, James. By his first marriage he became the father of four boys, viz., John, who died in 1882; Robert, who died in 1875; David; and Samuel, who died in 1841. David Renfrew, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born April 30, 1817. Becoming impressed with the desirability of more extended education than was afforded at the schools in his section, he commenced the regular course in Marshall College, but ill health compelled him to abandon his intentions to graduate after attending for two years. Thinking to benefit his health, he came to Butler County in 1840, and engaged in school teaching, intending shortly to return home, but becoming acquainted with Mary L., daughter of John KIRKPATRICK one of the pioneers of Armstrong County, whom he married May 2, 1844, he was led to change his plans for the future, and purchased a farm in Allegheny County, which was disposed of in 1848,and in 1851 he purchased and removed to a farm in Penn Township, Butler County. To this was subsequently added the farm on which he now resides, and on which, in 1854, he erected a saw-mill which ran for many years. In 1868, he erected a grist mill, which did service until burned in June, 1882. This same year, 1882, coal oil was discovered in paying quantities on his farm, where at this writing extensive operations are being pushed to develop it, while several wells already down are producing oil in considerable quantities, as will appear in the oil chapter in this volume.  Mr. RENFREW has devoted himself assiduously to his private business since becoming a resident of Butler, and he is a man who has won the esteem and respect of his associates. Both Mr. and Mrs. RENFREW are consistent members of the Covananters Church. They have been the parents of children as follows: Samuel, who enlisted in 1862 in Company H, of the old Thirteenth (afterward One Hundred and Second) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed September 19, 1864, at the battle of Opequon Creek; Agnes, now Mrs. S. MILLEN; Elizabeth, now Mrs. E. LOGAN; John, a farmer in Penn; Robert, deceased; while David, Hannah A., Kezia, Melissa, Margaret are still at home. James KIRKPATRICK, grandfather of Mrs. RENFREW (Mary Kirkpatrick), was a Revolutionary soldier, and settled in Armstrong County before the removal of the Indians. Source https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pabutler/1883/83-28.htm ____________________________________________________________________ Butler Co History 1895SAMUEL RENFREW was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of John RENFREW, a native of Renfrewshire, Paisley, Scotland, born in 1750. John RENFREW came to America about 1768, and served in the Continental army throughout the Revolution. He was a member of the Covenanter church, and died in that faith. After the War of Independence had closed, he settled near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, erected a grist and saw mill, and carried on the milling and lumbering business the remainder of his life. He married Sarah RAY, and was the father of four sons and four daughters. Samuel grew to manhood in his native county, and upon his father's death succeeded to the mill property, which he conducted down to his death. The mill is still owned by a member of the Renfrew family. Samuel RENFREW married Hannah LINDSAY, who bore him a family of four sons, viz.: John; Robert; David A., and Samuel, all of whom are dead but David A. The parents were members of the Covenanter church, and were quite prominent in that denomination. DAVID A. RENFREW, third son of Samuel and Hannah (LINDSAY) RENFREW, was born at Greenwood Mills, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1817, was reared in his native county, and went into business with his father. In 1840 he came to Butler county and settled on Connoquenessing creek, in what is now Penn township. In 1844 he built a saw mill, and in 1868 a grist mill, which [p. 919] was the beginning of the present village of Renfrew, named in honor of its founder. Mr. RENFREW has been prominently identified with oil producing, and has several wells on his property. His original tract of 600 acres is now reduced to 200, which, however, is sufficient to support him in comfort the remainder of his life. In 1844 Mr. RENFREW married Mary KIRKPATRICK, of Armstrong county, where she was born in 1824. To this union have been born ten children, as follows:
Samuel, who was killed in the Rebellion; Agnes J., wife of Samuel MELLON Elizabeth, wife of Erastus LOGAN John C., who married Lena CROWE Robert, deceased David, who married Susan WEBER Hannah A., wife of John L. WALKER Kesiah, wife of A.J. WHITE Melissa, wife of John H. WALKER Maggie, wife of Simeon W. PHIPPS.  
Mr. RENFREW is one of the founders of the Covenanter church at Renfrew, and has been one of the principal supporters of that organization since the beginning. https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pabutler/1895/95x71-3.htm ______________________________________________________________________ 2. Renfrew City, PA
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