1914 Biography - Wiley P. Renwick

Renwick, Capt. Wiley Polk, prominent in the commercial life of Monroe, was born Aug. 16, 1840, in Troup county, Ga. His parents were Dr. Nathan R.and Maria (McCriller) Renwick, the former of whom was a native of South Carolina, who settled in Georgia when a young man and practiced medicine in Troup county. He remained there until toward the close of his life, then settling in Bastrop, La., a few years prior to his death, where he had continued his professional labor. W. P. Renwick spent his youth in Georgia till 1861, when he came to Louisiana and joined Co. B, 3d Louisiana regiment infantry, in order to be with his brother. He was first under Gen. McCullouch and later under Gen. Price. The first year of the war he was in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas, but in 1862 was transferred to Corinth, Miss., under Beauregard and Bragg. He was in a number of battles, having been wounded 3 times, twice in 1 battle, and in hospital on both occasions. He was taken prisoner twice by Grant's army,the first time being left behind on account of a wound; the second time he was surrendered at Vicksburg in 1863. On the latter occasion, after being paroled, he came home and remained until exchanged. After that he saw no active service and was not well from his wounds for 7 years. In 1865 he was paroled and came to Bastrop, where he engaged in general merchandising for about 7 years. In 1871 he moved to Monroe and engaged in handling cotton and freight on steamboats and cars, having remained in the shipping business to this time. He devotes all his time to the People's Warehouse & Compress Co. and the Standard Warehouse & Compress Co., both in Monroe, La.

In the Confederate army Mr. Renwick was a lieutenant and in reconstruction days he was elected captain of a company, since which time has been called captain. Capt. Renwick is a member of the Masonic order, a member and elder in the Presbyterian church and commander of the local camp, No. 182, of the United Confederate Veterans. In Dec., 1862, Mr. Renwick was married to Margaret, daughter of N. P. Cook of Yazoo county, Miss., and they have the following children: Joseph, in real estate and in the dairy business with his father; Willie Fay, now Mrs. F. B. Seiguine of Monroe; Cook, in the dairy business; Leonora, now Mrs. H. G. Prophitt of Monroe, La.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches, edited by Alcee Fortier, published in 1914, volume 3, page 735.