William Cary Renfrow
| William Cary Renfrow | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 3rd Governor of Oklahoma Territory | |
|
In office May 7, 1893 – January 31, 1897 |
|
| Appointed by | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Abraham J. Seay |
| Succeeded by | Cassius M. Barnes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 15, 1845 Smithfield, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | May 24, 1922 (aged 77) Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Oakland Cemetery Russellville, Arkansas, U.S. 35°16′12.3″N 93°07′51.6″W / 35.270083°N 93.131000°W |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Jennie B. York |
| Occupation | businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States
|
| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1862-1865 |
| Rank | First Sergeant |
| Unit | Company C, 50th North Carolina Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Cary Renfrow (March 15, 1845 – January 31, 1922) was an American businessman who served as the 3rd Governor of Oklahoma Territory from 1893 to 1897.
The third territorial governor was born at Smithfield, North Carolina on March 15, 1845. He attended the public schools which he left at the age of 17 years to enter the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War, and on February 25, 1862, enlisted in Company C, 50th North Carolina Infantry Regiment at Smithfield and was mustered into service at Camp Mangum on April 21, 1862, as a sergeant but subsequently was promoted to first sergeant. Robert Darius Lunsford was captain of Company C and Marshall D. Craton was the colonel of the 50th regiment at the time of his enlistment. The last muster rolls of his company available show that for July and August, 1864 young Renfrow was being present.
After his return from the war, Renfrow removed from North Carolina to the vicinity of Russellville, Arkansas where in 1865 he married Jennie B. York of Judsonia, Arkansas on October 17, 1875. He functioned as a deputy county official at Russellville in the 1880s. Upon the opening of Oklahoma for settlement in 1889, he located at Norman, Oklahoma where he was engaged in the banking business in association with T. M. Richardson of Oklahoma City. President Grover Cleveland appointed Renfrow as governor of Oklahoma Territory and on May 7, 1893 the oath of office was administered to him at Guthrie. He was a democrat, being the only governor from that party during the territorial days. The outstanding event of his administration was the opening of the Cherokee Outlet on September 16, 1893. It was during his tenure that the Oklahoma Historical Society was formed and on February 21, 1895, Renfrow approved an act constituting that society as trustee for Oklahoma Territory. He was succeeded by Cassius M. Barnes who entered office on May 24, 1897.
...
Wikipedia