Robert Rennick
That portion of the city now known as the West End was originally owned by Robert Rennick, jointly with James Demint. Mr. Rennick at first settled in Springfield Township, but, soon after Demint's location of the town, he became a resident there. His land, which was in Section 5, Township 4, Range 9 was set apart to him upon a mutual division of the tract, which as stated before, he owned in common with Demint. The east half, by this partition, came into the possession of the latter, while the former held the west half, the eastern boundary of which ran along the line called Yellow Springs street. He was a man of indomitable will and enterprise. The small mill at the mouth of Mill Run could not meet the demand made upon it from the surrounding country, which in fact induced Mr. Rennick, during the years 1806 and 1807, to build a larger mill on Buck Creek, on the opposite bank, and a little below what is Fern Cliff Cemetery. It became a valuable acquisition to the new settlement, and long continued in successful operation. About fifteen or twenty year later, this mill, together with the farm on the north side of the creek, came into the possession of Mr. Henry Bechtle, who continued the business successfully as late as 1835. After the death of Mr. Bechtle, the mill was abandoned, and finally town down.
Mr. Rennick, in 1820, held the office of Justice of the Peace. His rulings were marked by a profound contempt for the decisions of higher courts, but were tempered by a sturdy common sense, which guided him aright. He was frequently a law unto himself and served his own writs if a Constable was not convenient or suitable to his mind. At one time, a man charge with horse-stealing was arrested and brought before him. As the modern features of jail or station-house had not been provided, and it became necessary to retain the prisoner overnight to secure the attendance of an important witness, Squire Rennick proceeded to improvise a pair of stocks. He split the log in halves, and hewed them so that, when joined again, two holes sufficently large to insert the prisoner's legs were made. In these holes his legs were placed, the log pinioned fast and the offender secured. He then laid the man thus fastened in a convenient place on the ground, confident that he would not forfeit his recognizance for his appearance the next day.
