Biographies from "History of Alexander, Union & Pulaski Counties", Illinois, edited by Wm. H. Perrin, published by Baskin, Chicago, 1883, biographical section, Alto Pass Precinct, pages 164-167. J. S. RENDLEMAN, farmer, P. O. Alto Pass, was born in Rowan County, N. C., October 26, 1811. In October 1816 his father, Jacob Rendleman, came to this county and settled three miles northwest of Jonesboro, and was a member of the first board of county commissioners with George Hunsaker and William Thornton. The history of the Rendleman family would include a great many incidents of hardships; such as going to New Madrid, Mo., for cotton, from which they would manufacture their own clothes, and of going to Saline, Ill., for salt and packing it on horses, having only an Indian trail to follow. At first, their milling was done by pounding corn in a hollow stump or block, with a wooden pestle attached to a sweep. Their sugar was made from the sugar maple, and instead of tea and coffee they used sassafras and sycamore chips. However, the children of the family grew up strong and robust. Frequently, while a young man, our subject has gone to a house-raising in the morning, where by evening they would have the puncheons split and laid for a floor, the roof on, and then be ready for a dance that night, and in this sport Gov. Reynolds would frequently take a hand with them. The second school that Mr. Rendleman attended was taught by Gov. Dougherty, and the last by Winston (sic; possibly should be Winstead) Davie. In 1832 he enlisted and served through the Black Hawk war, B. B. Craig being captain. While out on the campaign, he cast his first Presidential vote for Jackson, and has been voting for a Jackson man ever since. Of the 100 who went out under Capt. Craig, only six are now living - John Corgan, James Morgan, Wilson Lingle, H. E. Hodges, Solomon Miller and our subject. For four years after coming out of the army, Mr. Rendleman taught subscription schools. In 1838 he was married in this county to Margaret Hartline, her family also being one of the earliest families in the county, coming from North Carolina. By this marriage Mr. R. had five children, two sons and two daughters now living. In 1848 his wife died, and some time after this he was married to Elizabeth Donovan, who was born in Missouri but came to Union County when but a small girl, being here during the flood of 1844, and only escaping by being taken out of the second story window just as the house was about to go to pieces, crushed by the flood. By this wife Mr. R. has four children, two sons and two daughters. In 1838 he moved to his present farm, and in 1840 built the house he still lives in. Mr. R. is a strong temperance man. ========================================================================= JOHN RENDLEMAN, farmer, P. O. Alto Pass, was born in this county December 23, 1844, to Henry and Mary (Hess) Rendleman. He was born in 1805 to Jacob Rendleman, and came to this county from North Carolina in 1818, and died here in 1873. She was born in North Carolina also, and came with her parents to this county about the same time as the Rendlemans. She is still living, but over 70 years of age. Our subject is one of a family of 17, eight of whom died when small; the remaining nine are now living in this county. He was educated in the schools of this county, and has always been engaged in the same occupation as his father, that of farming; but he has not confined himself to farming alone, but has engaged in other business in connection with his farm. For three years he was in the mercantile business in Alto Pass, but in 1881 he sold his stock of goods to James Harreld, but this present year has again put in a stock of groceries, but leaves the business in the hands of clerks. For three years Mr. Rendleman has been in the employ of F. Nickerson & Son, fruit commission, 91 South Water Street, Chicago. December 28, 1865, he was married to Miss Isabel Keith. She was born in this county to Abner and Louisa Keith. He was also a native of this county and died here; she, however, is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Rendleman have five children - William Arthur, Herbert, Maud, May and Mamie. In politics he has always been Democratic. ========================================================================= A. J. RENDLEMAN, general merchandise, Alto Pass, was born in Union County, Ill., April 6, 1848, and is the son of J. S. Rendleman (see sketch), his mother dying during his infancy. Our subject attended the schools of this county, and remained on the farm till 1860, when he went to Cobden and clerked in the store owned by his father and James Fowley. Here he remained as clerk till he was about of age, and then engaged in business as Mr. Fowley's partner. He continued in the store till 1875, when his health failed and he went to California, where he remained for about eight months, then returned to Cobden. In 1876 he sold his interest in the store and went to Dallas, Tex.; but losing a little child by death, and his wife's health failing, he again returned to Cobden. Here his remaining child died April 20, 1877, and May 22 following his wife also passed away. Mrs. Emma M. (Stearns) Rendleman was born in Bangor, Me., May 12, 1856, and was married to Mr. A. J. Rendleman April 15, 1873. She was the daughter of Osborn R. Stearns, who settled in Cobden in 1867 and died December 22, 1873. After the loss of his family, Mr. R. went to Iowa and engaged in the commission business, but in 1878 he again returned to Union County and bought a fruit farm, which he still owns. In 1879 he engaged in mercantile business at Alto Pass and has continued here since, doing a general merchandise business, his store building being 48x60 feet. He carries a stock of about $10,000, and his annual sales amount to about $35,000. Mr. Rendleman is a member of the I.O.O.F. of Alto Pass and is also Democratic in politics. ========================================================================= C. C. RENDLEMAN, general merchandise, Alto Pass, was born in Union County, Ill., December 18, 1854, and is the oldest son of J. S. Rendleman, by second marriage (see sketch of J.S.R.). He remained on the farm till he was 16 years old, when he began clerking in the store of Fowley & Rendleman of Cobden. He continued in this store till 1879, when he went into partnership in general merchandising in Alto Pass with his brother A. J. His health failing in the spring of 1882, he sold his interest in the store to his brother, and for the succeeding year avoided all confinement, and so regained health. During the year, he was engaged collecting and straightening up the old store accounts of Rendleman Bros. Now, however, he has again opened a $5,000 stock of general merchandise. In October 1881 he was married in this county to Miss Adelia Rich, who was also born and raised in this county, daughter of John M. Rich. Mr. and Mrs. Rendleman have two little girls - Ara and Villa. Mr. R. is a member of the I.O.O.F. and a Democrat in politics. ========================================================================= E. R. SKIMLAND, farmer, P. O. Cobden, was born in Norway May 16, 1832, to Richard and Karey (Knotson) Skimland. They were both natives of Norway. He was a farmer, but through misfortune lost his farm when our subject was but a small boy, and after that he held a position in Norway called "skafer", it being one in which, if a traveler came along and wished to be carried to a certain point, he would have to find the conveyance for him, and generally in that place they traveled in rowboats, so Mr. Skimland would have to see to getting the rowers. He, however, died when our subject was but 16. His widow, the mother of our subject, is still living. She is in this country, with a daughter, and is 82 years of age. She came to America in 1872. They were the parents of nine children, all but one of whom are still living, and that one died in 1882 at the age of 60 years. To follow the changes and to give all the incidents of importance in the life of our subject would make a volume in itself, so we will mention but a few. As soon as he was able to earn his board, he was taken on a vessel with his uncle, as waiter. He continued here except what time he was compelled by the laws of Norway to attend school, till he had past his last examination at school. From that time till he was 22 years old, he was a sailor on a coasting vessel, going to the German, English and neighboring coasts. In 1856 he came to America and settled at Ottawa, Ill., where he remained until 1858, when he went to Texas. Here he was at work on a railroad when the war broke out, and he was compelled to enter the Southern service. But as soon as he could, he deserted and fled to Mexico, where he remained most of the time till he heard that Lincoln was killed, and also that there were Union troops at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, to whom he made his way, and after a great deal of hardship he joined them and took the oath of allegiance. They then started for the North, and while at Cairo the war was declared over, but Mr. Skimland was without transportation or money with which to reach his friends at Ottawa. But he started out and went to Cobden, and here he stopped to work for money to carry him on, not having food, clothing or money. His only shirt was one he had worn from March 7 till he got to Cobden June 29 following. Going into the store of Henry Blumenthal, Mr. B. saw his need and gave him a new shirt. By the time Mr. Skimland had made money enough to carry him on to his friends, he had decided that he would try raising strawberries for a year or so - and the result is that he is still here in Union County, and one of the most successful fruit-raisers in the precinct. From the time of his arrival here till 1873 he had various reverses of fortune. After making some money, he went into a mill, on which he lost all that he had, and still found himself about $800 in debt; but, nothing daunted, he bought his present place that year, (paying) $62 down, but in a few years he paid off all his debts, built a good residence and made other improvements. December 18, 1867, he was married in this county to Elizabeth Haup of Baltimore, Md. In politics Mr. Skimland is Republican. ========================================================================= S. H. SPANN, farmer, P. O. Alto Pass, was born in North Carolina August 3, 1811, to William and Hannah (Flack) Spann. She was born in North Carolina and died there, but he was born in South Carolina and went to North Carolina when a young man, but moved to Alabama and died there. They were the parents of 13 children; three sons and one daughter are still living. Our subject was raised and educated in his native State and learned the same trade as his father - that of carpentering. He followed his trade for several years, but most of his life he has been engaged in farming. In 1851 he moved to this State and settled in Jonesboro, where he remained till 1876, when he moved to his present home at Alto Pass. For some years, while in Jonesboro, and also for three years in Alto Pass, he was engaged in the mercantile business. He now, however, gives his attention to his farm. Mr. Spann has always been Democratic in politics, and while in Jonesboro he served one term as justice of the peace. He is now police magistrate of Alto Pass. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity; also of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Spann is now living with his fourth wife, and is the father of 15 children, ten of whom are still living, and all are in this county except one son, who is a lawyer in Vienna, Ill., and one son in St. Louis, Mo. =========================================================================