Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 448] Of the prominent citizens of Lawrence County the gentleman whose name heads this sketch occupies a position of consequence. He is descended from the old and well-known family of that name. His paternal grandfather, Francis Reno, who was an Episcopal clergyman, was born in New Jersey, Feb. 7, 1757. Jesse, the eleventh child of Francis and Lydia Reno, was born in 1807, and Henry B. Reno, the present scion of the family, began his life Sept. 21, 1833.
The grandfather, Rev. Francis Reno, was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, in 1758, [sic] and settled near Rochester, Pa. His wife was Lydia Savors, born Sept. 16, 1764. A numerous family came to be reared under their fostering care: John; Elizabeth; Charles; Lewis; William; Nancy; James; Thomas; Francis; Susan; Jesse; and Lydia. Rev. Reno was a man of strong conviction of principles, and by his position was enabled to do much good in the community.
Jesse Reno was born, as before stated, in 1807, and after some time spent in school, he learned the tanner's trade, and divided his time between that trade and farming after he settled in Jefferson township, Mercer County. He rose to be a personage of considerable importance and was a life-long Republican, his first vote going for John C. Fremont for President; although he was versed and active in politics, he did not pose as an office-holder. Jesse Reno stood before the hymeneal altar with Elizabeth Bebout, a daughter of Peter Bebout, and ten children were the result of this union: Abner L.; Henry B.; Francis A.; Catherine J.; Lydia A.; John L.; Addie E.; Rebecca M.; Perry A.; and Luella M. In matters of religious interest, the family was attached to the M. E. Church.
Henry B. Reno was sent to school to acquire the rudiments of an education. He was engaged in agrarian pursuits when in 1854 he went to Iowa and spent two years, and in 1856 went to California, remaining there until 1871, when he returned to Pulaski township, and associated himself with his brothers in the manufacture of Reno's French umber filler. The umber is mined on the farm owned by Mr. and Mrs. Reno, and the product is sent over the United States and Canada. This quality of umber is used throughout the States and Canada for various purposes, but is chiefly employed in filling in coach, car and locomotive work, and is also used to some extent in safe work. Mr. Reno is especially adapted to business life, and oversees his mill and a large farm where stock is raised. He is a stirring active character, and has depended on himself to build his financial credit, with the satisfactory result that he has reached a flattering degree of success.
On Oct. 7, 1880, Mr. Reno entered into a marriage contract with Mary E. Hey, a daughter of John Hey of East Brook, Pa.; she was born in Bath, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Reno are faithful and consistent members of the M. E. Church, where they have a large circle of warm friends. Mr. Reno holds a membership in the A. O. U. W. of Pulaski, where he is a leading light.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 6 Jul 2001