The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 848 
A portrait of Charles H. Renz appears in this publication.
A photograph of the residence of Charles H. Renz appears in this publication.
 
CHARLES H. RENZ.

Charles H. Renz, who has lived in Yakima county throughout the past eleven
years, is the owner of a valuable tract of land comprising ten acres a few miles
west of the city of Yakima, whereon he grows apples and other fruit. His birth
occurred in Henry, Illinois, on the 24th of May, 1864, his parents being
Dominick and Theresa (Droll) Renz, both of whom were natives of Germany but came
to the United States in early life. The father was active in business as a shoe
merchant.

During the period of the Civil war he served for about two years as a member of
the Union army, loyally defending the interests of his adopted land. Both he and
his wife passed away in Illinois.
Charles H. Renz spent his youthful days in the acquirement of a public school
education and after putting aside his textbooks devoted his attention to farming
for several years. Subsequently he became identified with the lumber business at
Henning, Illinois, and later turned his attention to general merchandising,
conducting an enterprise of that character at Colfax, Illinois. Owing to
impaired health he then spent a year in travel, journeying all over the united
States in search of a desirable location. He visited Yakima in 1900 and was so
pleased with the district that he settled here permanently in 1907, taking up
his abode on a twenty-acre tract of land which he purchased, four and
one-quarter miles west of the city. Later he sold half of the place but still
retains the remaining ten acres, which he has improved until it is now a
valuable orchard property, devoted to the growing of apples and other fruit for
his own use. He also erected a handsome residence and substantial barn which are
the visible evidence of the success which has attended his efforts.

On the 1st of March, 1909, Mr. Renz was united in marriage to Miss Josephine
Sells, of Missouri. His political allegiance is given to the republican party
and while a resident of Illinois he served in a number of local offices in most
creditable and satisfactory manner. His religious faith is indicated by his
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally he is identified
with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of
the Yakima County Horticultural Union and the Yakima Commercial Club, and has
long been widely recognized as a successful orchardist and representative and
esteemed citizen of the community.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.