RENICK
Robert W. RENICK lost much valuable property during the years of the civil war. His brother Calvin B., who was a member of the 1st Greenbrier Cavalry, shot the first Federal soldier in Northwestern Virginia. He was on picket near Laurel Hill, when the Federal line advanced into that vicinity, and shot in self-defense.
Benjamin Franklin RENICK, born at Sinking Creek, this county, august 28, 1800, was the father of Robert W., and he married Eveline BEARD, born in this county, in Renicks Valley, June 6, 1806. She died at falling spring in 1864. John Webster DUNN, born in Harrison County, (then) Virginia, in January, 1802, and Maria (TAYLOR) DUNN, born in Lewisburg, this county, in 1807, were the parents of Elizabeth, wife of Mr. RENICK. Her father is living in this county, and her mother died near Ronceverte, July 18, 1879. Robert W. RENICK is a farmer, with address at Falling Spring, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
JAMES HENRY RENICK - lives on the homestead farm of the RENICK family, in Falling Spring District, Greenbrier County. The land was entered and settled upon in the pioneer days of the county, by Major William RENICK, who came from Augusta County, Virginia, and passed the remainder of his life on the land he had redeemed from the wilderness and the savages. The place is known as the "Cave Farm," and embraces nearly 1,000 acres of valuable land. Since its first settlement it has remained in the possession of one of the RENICK name. Here William RENICK, Esq., was born, April 19, 1792, and here he died July 30, 1867.
He married Rebecca RENICK, who was born in Muddy Creek, this county, March 25, 1791, and died March 15, 1846. Their son James HENRY, subject of this sketch, was born June 17, 1818, and in Pulaski County, Virginia, June 6, 1860, he married Mary Christina MATHEWS. She was born in Pocahontas County, (then) Virginia, August 3, 1837, a daughter of Capt. A. G. and Mary Jane (SEE) MATHEWS. Her father was born in Greenbrier County, March 23, 1802, and her mother was born in Randolph County, in Tygarts Valley, then in Virginia, January 9, 1803. Capt. MATHEWS and his wife moved to Pulaski County in 1852, and there both died in the year 1880, the former on May 19th, and the latter on January 22nd, Mr. And Mrs. RENICK are the parents of: Felix Mathews, born April 14, 1861, is in attendance at Roanoke College; Mary See, July 11, 1863, is at school at Holland's Institute; Eliza R., January 6, 1866; James Harry, May 19, 1868, are at home; Charles Lake, May 10, 1862, died August 16, 1875; Christina Cameron, September 1, 1874, at home.
During the civil war Mr. RENICK served in the commissary department under Lee, buying cattle and general supplies for the army. His post office address is Falling Spring, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
Source: Hardesty, Henry H. Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. New York: H.H. Hardesty and Company, 1884. Rpt. in West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia. Ed. Jim Comstock. Richwood: Comstock, 1974.