Renshaw, Dr. William

Born in Illinois, William Renshaw studied medicine and set up practice in Sparta, Tennessee. His wife Sarah received from the Mexican government a grant of land in Texas, where her father Samuel Worthington lost his life in a colonization attempt in 1828. Dr. Renshaw traveled to Texas in 1853 to locate this headright, which encompassed many acres of Wise County north of this marker site. Dr. Renshaw returned to Sparta and served two terms in the Tennessee Legislature before moving his family to Texas in 1859. The first doctor to settle permanently in Wise County, Dr. Renshaw was often away from home for long periods, with a practice extending from Denton to Jacksboro. The Renshaws organized one of the county's earliest schools, taught by J. D. White, for their own and neighbor children. After the Civil War, the family moved to Decatur, where Dr. Renshaw and his son Lute opened a drugstore. They were devout Baptists and supported Decatur Baptist College. Dr. Renshaw died in 1887 and was buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Decatur. As his 10 children married, each received a portion of the Worthington survey. Two family members still own part of the property. A number of descendants became doctors. (1977)

Renshaw, Dr. William is a historical marker in Decatur, Wise County, dedicated in 1977. It is one of 91 historical markers documented in Wise County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 162 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.2444, -97.4998 near Decatur. The nearest cataloged historic site is James, Jesse and Frank, Old Campsite of (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Sweetwater Cemetery, unknown grave (E. of Decatur, S. of Old Denton Hwy, N of Sweetwater Creek), and Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5497001282. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.