Charles Rendall was born in Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England. At age 12, he apprenticed as a tailor for a seven-year period to learn the trade. He performed this trade until age 47. He was converted at 17 and became a local Methodist preacher in England and later in America.

"...my father was one who, in early life, signed a pledge of total abstinence which he kept to his dying day. He also never used tobacco in any form, nor profane language; although he used some rather nasty words sometimes when exasperated." --SRRauto--

He met Ann Apsey and married her on July 30, 1839. On their wedding certificate, their residence was listed as "Kingstone Somerset". The next year, they had their first child - a son, Job, named after her father. In 1841, Charles and Ann, and their one year old son left for America from Bristol, England, on the ship "Alesto". After 11 weeks onboard, they arrived to New York on December 10, 1841.

They lived at Graves End, Long Island, New York for eight years. During that time, three more of their children were born (Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary).

In 1850, the family headed "west" to Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, where they located at Summitt in Waukesha County after spending a year and a half in Milwaukee. During this time, Charles joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). They set up his tailor shop and lived there about 13 years and had six more children (Susan Ann, Charles William, John Fletcher, George Whitfield, Joseph Benson, and Ellen Anna). During this time period, they suffered the loss of two of their children (Georgie at age three and Job Apsey, who died while in the Civil War).

Then in 1864, lured by the rich soil of Blue Earth County, Minnesota, they moved further west to Faribault County, Minnesota to Lura township near Delavan, Minnesota. He later walked 163 miles to La Crosse, WI, in five days, returning with a yoke of oxen, a wagon and two cows. They homesteaded on 160 acres and spent the rest of their lives there together. This is when Charles changed his profession from tailor to farmer. During this time period, they had two more children (Simon Robert and Enos James). In total, Charles and Ann had twelve children. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on July 30, 1914. Charles' wife, Ann, died later that same year. Charles died two years later just three months before he would have reached his 100th birthday.

OBITUARY:
Charles Rendall was born at Clapham, Somersetshire, England, March 28th, 1817. At the age of 22 years he came with his wife and one son to America. He lived successively in New York, Long Island, Wisconsin and Minnesota, where he has resided since 1864. He leaves 100 direct living descendants: nine children, 37 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. His wife, three children, four grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren preceded him.

Those who had the pleasure of caring for him the last few years of his life speak of his remarkable patience manifested in enduring the infirmities of such extreme old age, ever thoughtful for those who were younger in years, never retiring at night or rising in the morning without greeting all with a pleasant goodnight or good morning. Just four days before his departure he was confined to his bed. At no time murmuring or complaining and met death with an unwavering faith in the God that he served and had cared for him for nearly 100 years. During the four days he was repeatedly asked if he was in pain or suffering, but in every instance he responded that he was not suffering and was at ease. 18 hours before he passed away, he fell into a quiet sleep which was undisturbed until his spirit took its flight into the life beyond. Nine children survive him: Mrs. Silas Cook, Mrs. Robert More and Charles Rendall of Blue Earth, Mrs. James Young of Gynn Haven, Florida, John Fletcher Rendall and Mrs. Ella Lewis of Delavan, J. Benson Rendall of Zion City, Illinois, Robert Rendall of Winnebago, and James Rendall of Ashland, Wisconsin.

The Enterprise joins in extending sympathy to the family in the loss of such a good and kind man.

See this person's record on FindAGrave.com
[this person's record on FindAGrave.com is managed by this website]

DOCUMENTS:

job-apsey-rendall-letter-18630327.pdf
* March 27, 1863 letter from son Job to his parents, Charles and Ann Rendall during his time serving in the Civil War. He died less than 2 months later.