PIPER JAMES RENWICK (REN)

1869 - 1957  (88 years)

• Name	PIPER JAMES RENWICK (REN)
  Born	15 Sep 1869	farm in Pilot Knob Twp 3 mi. east of Oakdale, Illinois
  Gender	Male
  Died	11 Dec 1957
  Person ID	I06066	Gynzer's Genealogy Database
  Last Modified	4 Jul 2005

  
  

  Father	PIPER JOHN,   b. 2 Jul 1844
  Mother	LITTLE MARGARET HEMPILL,   b. 5 Nov 1845
  Family ID	F02109	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	BLAIR NANCY EMILY (EMMA),   b. 13 Jan 1874, Of Cutler, Illinois ,   d. 13 Aug 1966  (Age 92 years)
  Married	12 Aug 1903
  Children	1. PIPER EVELYN   2. PIPER HELEN + 3. PIPER JOHN HUBERT,   b. 20 Jun 1904,   d. at age of 96 + 4. Living   5. PIPER IRENE,   b. 1 Nov 1907,   d. 7 Dec 1968  (Age 61 years)   6. PIPER HAZEL,   b. 7 Feb 1911,   d. 2 Jul 1937  (Age 26 years) + 7. Living
  Family ID	F02140	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  James Renwick Piper (September 15, 1869-December 11, 1957), the eldest son of John and Margaret (Little) Piper, ws born on a farm in Pilot Knob Township three miles east of Oakdale that his father had purchased in 1864, while he was a young soldier of the Union Army. ren lived on this farm for 68 years until he retired and moved to Oakdale in 1937. In 1917 he purchased an adjoining farm of 80 acres for $2500. Ren's ancestors were all members of the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) Church and his grandfather Robert Piper, who came from the North of Ireland, was one of the early settlers of Washington County. During his boyhood Ren helped build the present Covenanter Church building at Oakdale and he was later an elder in this church for 34 years. After completing his elementary education he attended classes in the former Covenanter Church building and he later attended classes in the Coulterville Academy. As a young man Ren helped to lay the roadbed for the Illinois Southern Railroad (now Missouri-Illinoois) using a team of horses and a road scraper. During World War I he was instrumental in the purchase of mules for the United State Army. On August 12, 1903, Ren was united in marriage with Nancy Emily (Emma) Blair (January 13, 1874-August 13, 1966) of Cutler, Illinois and they were the parents of seven children: 1) John H., 2) Dwight F., 3) Irene (November 1, 1907-December 7, 1968), 4) Evelyn (Mrs. Clarence Stevenson), 5) Hazel (February 7, 1911-July 2, 1937), 6) Wilmer R., 7) Helen (Mrs. Archie Woodrome). Before her marriage Emma taught for ten years in the rural one-room schools of Perry and Randolph counties. It was largely through her influence that all seven of her children earned degrees in Higher Education and all became school teachers. Hazel was teaching in Midland, Pa. and Irene in Okawville High school at the time of their deaths. Irene taught in various schools in Washington County and taught for four years in the American Academy in Nicosia, Cyprus. Hazel, Irene and their parents are buried in the Oakdale Cemetery. By Dwight Piper; Evelyn (Piper) Stevenson; Helen (Piper) Woodrome From 1979 WASHINGTON COUNTY ILLINOIS HISTORY