==================================================================== > Source: GC-Luzerne Co. Pa Bios Forum > URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Pa/LuzerneBios/1501 > Subject: RENSHAW-SMITH, married1864 > > > Surname: RENSHAW, SMITH, JENKINS, HICKS, WILLIAMS, RANSOM > ------------------------- > > Wilkes-Barre Record, Wed. May 20, 1914 > > Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Renshaw, former prominent residents of Plymouth, > yesterday celebrated their golden wedding at the family home in Dallas, > surrounded by their children and the latter's immediate families. The event > proved of unusual enjoyment and pleasure, and will long be remembered by > all. Mr. and Mrs. Renshaw, although quite advanced in years, are well preserved, > and were the most active at the assemblage. They were remembered with a > large number of beautiful and useful gifts, many of which were of gold. > The interior of the home was tastily decorated and the color scheme conformed > with the gold occasion. An elaborate dinner and supper were served. Mr. > Renshaw was born in Plymouth on Nov. 11, 1836, being the son of William > Renshaw and Martha Jenkins Renshaw, old settlers of Plymouth, his father > having been born at Phoenixville. Mrs. Theodore Renshaw, whose maiden name > was Miss Charity Smith, is of Scotch, German and English parentage, being > the daughter of Benjamin Smith and Mary Hicks Smith. She was born on March > 16, 1840, in Plymouth Township, near the old Shupp Cemetery. Both of her > parents were born at Hope, N.J., but moved to Kingston, and later to Plymouth > Township and Jackson Township. Theodore Renshaw and Miss Charity Smith > were married at the Ira Ransom homestead in Jackson Township on May 19, > 1864, by the late Rev. Mr. Montgomery of Plymouth. They spent the greater > part of their married life in Plymouth and twelve years ago moved to Dallas, > where they have since made their home. Both are highly esteemed and respected > by the entire community. Mr. Renshaw at the age of 16 years when his father > died, secured work on the Pennsylvania Canal, being in the employ of the > late John J. Shonk of Plymouth. For many years he had charge of canal boats > between Wilkes-Barre and Havre de Grace, Md. He later quit boating and > became a stationary engineer when the Gaylord shaft was sunk for Gaylord > & Co.; No. 12 shaft for Dodson & Co. and old No. 5 shaft for D. & H. Co. > all at Plymouth. He then went into the butchering business with Andrew > Mathers of Elm Hill, and after that for twenty-five years had the contract > in Plymouth and vicinity for hauling all D.& H. coal to local consumers, > and at the same time also engaged in the livery and ice business until > he removed to Dallas. Mr. Renshaw also for years was engaged in the steamboat > business on the Susquehanna River, between Wilkes-Barre and Nanticoke. > He owned the Lyman Truman boat that was renamed the Susquehanna, and that > was destroyed by its boiler exploding at the Wilkes-Barre landing in the > early 80's. He also built the Mayflower and Marshland and ran them for > a long time, until river navigation was finally abandoned. His marriage > proved an unusually happy one and seven children were born to them, all > of them being alive, the exception Raymond, who died several years ago. > The children are William Elmer, Denver, Col.; I. Marvin, Wilkes-Barre; > John J., of Scranton; Miss Blanche, at home; Charles of Scranton and Mrs. > Thomas Williams of Dallas. The following attended the celebration: Mr. > and Mrs. I. Marvin Renshaw and son Raymond, Wilkes-Barre; Mr. and Mrs. > John J. Renshaw and daughter Florence; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Renshaw, sons > Theodore and Harold, daughters Eva and Dorothy, Scranton; Mr. and Mrs. > Thomas Williams, son Elmer Renshaw Williams and daughter Freda Renshaw > Williams and Miss Blanche Renshaw of Dallas. Mrs. Mary Ransom and daughter, > Miss Liva Ransom, of Jackson Township, sister and niece, respectively, > of Mrs. Renshaw, were also present. > >