JACOB RENNER, died at his home at Sharpsburg, shortly after midnight, after an illness of three weeks, his death being due to paralysis. He was 66 years of age and is survived by his widow and the following childen: McClellan, Charles, Edward, Ridgely Renner, Mrs. May Mose and Mrs. Bertha Poffenberger, all of Sharpsburg, and Ivan Renner, Phildelphia.

Funeral announcement later

Source: Morning Herald (Hagerstown, MD)
Tuesday, August 3, 1915
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son of Edwin T B Renner and Mary M Hine.
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The following story was provided by FAG Contributor MDWaterworth (48716190):

According to records from the 1878 Registry at the C & O Canal National Historic Park Jacob (Jake) Renner was the Captain of the canal boat named the John W. Burke. The John W. Burke was owned by the American Coal Co. of New York, NY. Because the company was based in New York City the boat was registered there. The boat was built in 1874. Most captains did not own their own boats, but like captains of other types of boats/ships, were hired by a company. On the C & O Canal many of the boats were hauling coal.

In another publication Home on the Canal by Elizabeth Kytle (1983) on page 154 J. P. Mose grandson of Jake Renner says of his grandfather -"Now, my Grandfather Jake Renner, he was one of the leading boatmen on the canal. When he left Cumberland he never tied up till he got to Washington. There wasn't too many boating night and day ..."

Jacob's family was very invested in the C&O Canal with three generations working on the C & O Canal starting with Jacob's father, Edwin Thomas Bausch Renner. Three of Jacob's brothers, Adolphus, John W. & Frisby listed boating on the canal in at least 1 census report. In addition four of Jacob's sons listed boating on the canal as their occupation in at least one census - Edward Thomas, Charles Raymond, Ridgely Hamilton & Ivan Jacob. According to J.P. Moses recollections on page 150 of Home on the Canal his uncles Ed (Edward), Charlie (Charles) & Ridgely were all captains of a boat, but Ivan did not get a boat of his own.
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