Francis C. Renner papers
Collection
0175-MDHC
Francis Calvin Renner (1840-1914) was an inventor, businessman, farmer, New Midway Postmaster, and minister in the Church of the Brethren. The collection contains correspondence, financial records, a ledger, legal documents, and a bankbook, documenting Renner's involvement in the Rose Jelly Manufacturing Company and the Woodsboro and Double Pipe Creek Turnpike Company. The papers relate chiefly to Rose Jelly Manufacturing Company with particular emphasis on agreements made with various business partners and on legal issues concerning patents.
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0.25 Linear Feet
English
The papers of Francis Renner include materials dating from 1881 to 1915 with the bulk of items dating from 1885 to 1892. The collection contains correspondence, financial records, a ledger, legal documents, and a bankbook, documenting Renner's involvement in the Rose Jelly Manufacturing Company and the Woodsboro and Double Pipe Creek Turnpike Company. The papers relate chiefly to Rose Jelly Manufacturing Company, with particular emphasis on agreements made with various business partners and on legal issues concerning patents.
Francis Calvin Renner was an inventor, businessman, farmer, New Midway Postmaster, and minister in the Church of the Brethren. He also managed the Rose Jelly Manufacturing Company of New Midway, Frederick County, Maryland, and was one of six directors of the Woodsboro and Double Pipe Creek Turnpike Company.
Renner was born on June 14, 1840, to Isaac Renner and Sophia Wolfe in Smithsburg, Washington County, Maryland. His four siblings were: Wilford Abraham (1842-1912); Milton Overholtz (1846-1915); George Isaac (1850-1907); and Laura Manora (1853-1935). Around 1861, Renner married Joanna Martz (1841-1867), and the couple had two children, Ida Mae (1862-1939) and Newton Daniel I. (1863-1949). Joanna Renner died in childbirth in 1867. In December 1868, Renner married Hannah Amanda Harshman (1848-1920). He had eleven children with his second wife: Anna Mary (1869-1920); John William (1870-1907); David Christian (1872-1950); Lottie Sophia (1874-?); Emma Laura (1876-?); Grace Jane (1879-?); Jason Calvin (1882-1968); James and Peter, twins, who survived only one day (1885); Samuel Morgan (1886-1974); and Jesse Isaac (1888-1948). Francis Renner died on December 15, 1914.
The collection is organized as two series.
The University of Maryland Libraries purchased the papers from Carmen Valentino in 1987.
Metal fasteners were replaced with padded, acid-free clips. Items were arranged chronologically.
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives