Untitled
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 960-961
JOHN P. TRENARY, one of the prominent and substantial citizens of Platteville, Grant county, and one of the largest land holders in Lafayette county, is of English birth and parentage. His parents, Philip and Isabel (LOWER) TRENARY, were natives of Cornwall, England, born in 1816 and 1820, respectively, the former a son of William TRENARY, the latter a daughter of Eber and Mary (HOCKEY) LOWER. All were residents of England.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip TRENARY came to this country in 1845, soon making a permanent settlement in Platteville, Wis. Mr. TRENARY spent his whole succeeding life on the farm, in his later years retiring from active duties. In politics he embraced the principles of the Republican party, was a good citizen, and left his family the record of an unblemished life. His death occurred in 1896, and his widow still resides in Platteville, at the age of over eighty years. The family born to the parents of our subject was a large one: John P., the subject of our review, was the eldest; Mary A., born in 1839, married Henry PIERCE, of Iowa, and at her death left eight children; Charles, born in 1842, married Caroline GREENROD, and lives in Pocahontas, Iowa, with a family of ten children; Emma, born in 1844, married John WARE, and resides at Big Patch, with one daughter; Ellen, born in 1847, married John RICKARD, and resides in Platteville; Robert, born in 1849, married Caroline HAWK, and lived in Platteville, where he died in 1895, leaving two children; Henry married Agnes JEFFERY, and resides at Austin, Minn., with two children; Carrie is deceased; Bryan F. married Selina HUNTINGDON, and resides in Platteville, with one son; William married Carrie RAISBACK, resides in Platteville township, and has three daughters; and Frank E. married Annie HUNTINGDON, and resides on the old homestead, with two children.
Our subject is by birth an Englishman, but America has claimed him so long as one of her worthy citizens that, to all intents and purposes, he belongs on this side of the Atlantic. In Cornwall, England, he was born Feb. 19, 1837, and there remained until he accompanied his parents to America, in 1845. His education was acquired in the district schools, and until he had reached maturity he continued on the old homestead, engaged in agricultural pursuits. After his marriage he purchased a tract of partly improved land in Kendall township, Lafayette county, which he cultivated for a number of years, and by substantial and continued improvements made of it one of the best farms in the county. Mr. TRENARY believes thoroughly in the best methods of farming, and thoroughly in the best methods of farming, and from long experience has discovered that the best is none too good in the way of buildings, implements, stock or cattle, hence has been eminently successful. He was given particular attention to stock, resulting in a reputation for his farm which extends over a wide section. His estate covers 600 acres of the best and most finely cultivated land in Lafayette county. Since 1900 Mr. and Mrs. TRENARY have made their residence in Platteville.
On Dec. 31, 1859, occurred the marriage of Mr. TERNARY to Miss Elizabeth A. STEPHENS, the worthy daughter of Michael and Mary STEPHENS, this family being one of the old and prominent ones of Grant county, having come thither from England in 1842. Mr. STEPHENS crossed the Plains to California, making two trips, but finally locating in Platteville. Five of the children of Mr. and Mrs. STEPHENS still survive: Jane, wife of James STEVENS, of Platteville; Fannie, wife of John BONSON, of Platteville; John, of California; Samuel, of Sioux City, Iowa; and Mrs. TRENARY, who was born in England, Feb. 1, 1837, and grew up in Grant county, Wisconsin.
Mr. and Mrs. TERNARY have had a family of six children: Thomas Edgar, born in 1861, married Lizzie LILLICK, of Kendall township, and they now reside in Montana, where he is engaged in lumbering; they have two sons, Guy and Ellis. Otis L., born Sept. 21, 1865, was educated in the Platteville Normal School, later graduated from the Bryant Commercial College, of Chicago, and is now a professor in the Kenosha Commercial College; he married Lula COLVIN, of Scranton, Penn., and has one child, Gladys. Isabel, born March 20, 1864, married John RUSKELL, of Kendall and has four children, Charles, Bessie, Maud, and Mary. Emory, born in 1868, resides on the farm in Kendall. Fannie is at home. Dennis, who married Millie KILPATRICK, of Kendall, resides on the old home farm in Lafayette county.
In his political views Mr. TRENARY has long been identified with the Republican party, and both he and wife are consistent members of the M. E. Church, to which he has given liberally, enabling much benevolent work to be carried on. His early married life was hampered by want of means, but his energy and industry have enabled him to pass his last days in affluence, and he and his estimable wife have reared a family of which the community has every reason to feel proud, its various members ranking among the representative citizens.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck