Alexander Rennie
Alexander Rennie was one of three brothers - Alex, John F. Rennie, and James Rennie - who came to the Chickasaw Nation from Canada and prospered greatly. Alex was National Treasurer under William M. Guy, who won a hotly contested election for governor in 1886. When William Byrd unseated him two years later, Rennie was succeeded by D. Osborne Fisher. Alex Rennie was a
director of the State National Bank in Denison in 1887. By 1891, he had
become bank vice-president. He
still held this position in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. A. Rennie The subject of this sketch was born at Kingston, Canada, in October,
1828; is the son of Alex. Rennie, of Aberdeen, Scotland, one of the first
settlers in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Rennie came to Fort Washita in 1856, and
joined the Chickasaw Battalion as adjutant at the breaking out of the war.
Soon, however, he was relieved from duty to serve Governor Harris in the
capacity of National secretary, which post he occupied for four years, at the
expiration of which he filled the office of National auditor for the four
following years. In 1882 he went to Denison, Texas, where he purchased property and
erected some fine buildings, filling the office of school superintendent and
member of the city council between the years 1882 and 1886. Mr. Rennie is now [1891]
vice-president of the State National Bank, the safest institution of the kind
in Texas, which his taxable property in Denison exceeds seventy-five thousand
dollars. Add to this his home property at Wolf Springs, the house and
improvements alone which cost ten thousand dollars, together with live stock,
and Mr. Rennie will show up among the wealthiest men of the Chickasaw Nation. During the administration of Gov. William Guy, he was appointed National Treasurer, but transferred his responsibility to D. O. Fisher when the Byrd party assumed the reins of government.
Alexander Rennie was married in 1861 to Mary Humphrey, daughter of Richard Humphrey, her mother's maiden name being Sallie McClish, who was also mother of the late Holmes Colbert, National delegate to Washington. Mrs. Rennie, a lady of refinement and remarkable spirit, was educated at Wapanucka Academy and Colbert's Institute. She spent much of the early part of her life with her mother on Caddo Creek until her marriage. Recently a rich discovery of asphaltum has been made upon her property in that vicinity, which will soon be in a fine way of development.
[Source: O'Beirne, Harry F. Leaders and Leading Men of the
Indian Territory, with Interesting
Biographical Sketches ... Profusely Illustrated with Over Two Hundred
Portraits and Full-Page Engravings, vol. 1: Choctaws and Chickasaws (Chicago: American Publishers Association,
1891); reprint, Conway, AR: Oldbuck Press, 1994.]
The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, March 19, 1899 ALEC RENNIE DEAD Intelligence was received in the city Tuesday of the death of Alec Rennie, Sr., which occurred Monday at Paul's Valley, I.T. Grip with its train of evils was the cause of death Mr. Rennie belongs as much to Denison as to the Indian Territory. For a number of years Mr. Rennie has been largely interested in the material progress of Denison and at present owns 2 large business houses on Main Street. Mr. Rennie was born at Kingston, Canada, in 1828. He is of Scottish descent. Mr. Rennie came to Ft. Washita in 1856 and at the outbreak of the Civil War was Adjutant of the Chickasaw battalion. He was nation secretary under Governor Harris for 4 years. During the administration of Gov. Guy he was appointed National Treasurer. In 1861 he was married to Mary Humphrey, a lady of great force of character. From this happy union 3 sons and 2 daughter were born. Mr. Rennie was in all respects a remarkable man. He possessed great force of character which left its impression on all who came within the sphere of his acquaintance. Denison stands largely indebted to him, for his purse strings were always open to any improvement that would redound to her material advancement. He was a loyal and loving parents and an affectionate husband. Mr. Rennie was interred at Tishomingo on Wednesday. There was a large gathering to pay their last respects.  Alex Rennie Canadian Biograph Index Scottish Research Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
