"The late Furman Dye of Renrock, whose death was noted in Tuesday's issue of the Signal, was one of the best known residents in this part of the country, and a most interesting character".
[the next four paragraphs are about Ezekiel Dye, Sr. and add nothing to what has already been published in this source.].
"The life of Furman Dye is full of interesting incidents. His father died when he was under 12 years of age. In his young manhood he taught school. Mr. Dye was a brilliant conversationalist and could relate scores of interesting incidents of the days when schools were held in log cabins in the woods. Indian stories were also frequently told by him and incidents od deer hunting, these animals being abundant in this part of the country in his boyhood. He earned money by teaching to pay his way at Marietta, Granville, and Cincinnati Colleges. He took a medical course and studied medicine for several months under the late Dr. Hildreth of this city. He never practiced medicine, however. He married Miss Lucy McElroy of near Cumberland (Ohio) on April 15, 1846.
After his marriage, he entered the mercantile business at Renrock and Woodgrove. [The Renrock General Store was eventually sold to Samuel J. Paxton. The date of the purchase of this store is unknown to the writer. Is know that Samuel's father, Samuel Dye had relocated his family (including Samuel J.) from Lancaster County, PA to McConnellsville, Ohio, in 1830.
Frequently Mr. Dye hauled goods overland from Zanesville. He engaged in farming shortly before the War which occupation he continued until his retirement in 1892. He was the first postmaster at Renrock and held this position again under Cleveland's administration.
Mr. Dye was a lifelong Demcrat and often ably espoused the Democratic principles in debate. He refused the nomination for Congress when it meant election. As a speaker he acquitted himself with credit ...
The decreased debated many times with Attorney Ben Power, formerly practices law in this city. Mr. dye was opposed to the war of the rebellion and while condemning slavery, held that each state had a right to regulate the question for itself. He was always well informed and was a constant reader of periodicals.
Mr. Dye was known throughout southeastern Ohio as "Uncle Furman Dye". Mr. and Mrs. Dye were among the original members of the Renrock methodist Church, only three of four of whom are now living. Mr. Dye's chief church work was in the Sunday School where he taught the Bible Class for more than a score of years.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dye, four of whom are living. Those who survive are Mrs. L.M. Carr, Coshocton; Mrs. J.A. McCLelland of Cumberland, C.O. Dye of Cladwell and Forrest Dye of Zanesville. Wayland, Henrietta, and Courtland died twenty years or more ago. Mr. Dye was ill but a short time having been apparently hale and hearty until quite recently.
The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 o'clock at the Renrock M.P. Church. Rev. Mr. Wells conducted the services.
Written shortly before his death
Furman Dye, our oldest citizen here, is the possessor of probably the oldest document of the kind held by anyone in this community. It is the Patent conveying 640 acres of land (Sec. 32) from the U.S. to Ezekiel Dey, a native of Westmorland County, Pa.
The name has since been spelled "Dye" and in some localities "Dey" while in others it held to the original. It is plainly printed on the parchment signed by President James Madison in the year 1812. With the exception of seal being nearly all gone and the parchment somewhat eater, it is in good state of preservation. One thing noticeable about it is that but little change or improvement has been made in the style and form of printing during the lapse of nearly a century, which in many other arts the wheels of progress have wrought radical changes.
Another interesting fact in connection with this land deal is that the first field which Mr. Dye cleared out (on the creek bottom one-fourth mile above here) has never been plowed.
Ezekiel Dye who was a soldier in the Revolution and in the battle of Monmouth was the father of nineteen children of whom Furman Dye is the only survivor. Mr. Dye has passed the eighty second milestone of his life is still hale and hearty, a brilliant conversationalist, and keeps posted with the times. He still enjoys relating incidents of "ye olden times" especially snake and Indian stories. Around the cheerful hearthstone with his amiable companion is found a pleasant resort for both young and old.