...The second wife of Francis Render was Rachel, widow of James Gordon, and a daughter of John Sparks. The latter was a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer of Warren Township, where he improved two hundred and sixty-five acres. His Father came West at an early day, and bought three quarter-sections of land which he divided between his sons John and Ephraim. John died at an advanced age, leaving ten children. Mrs. Rachel Render became the mother of two sons, Theodore A., our subject, and Henry S., of Mineral Point. By her first union she had three children: Joseph; John, who served in the late war, and Uriah, now a resident of Iowa. Mrs. Render is now making her home with her son Theodore and has reached the age of seventy-eight years. She is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a most worthy and estimable lady.
