The 68th Annual RENNELS Family Reunion will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3, 2003 at Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.

This Reunion is composed of descendants of John Rennels, Sr. (1781-1866) and his wife, Nancy Ewing Bland Rennels (1787-1867), early settlers of Hutton Township, Coles County, Illinois, via Sussex County, Delaware; Madison County, Kentucky; Lawrence County, Indiana, and Vermilion County, Indiana.

This year we will be participating in the dedication ceremony of the Five Mile House Museum on Sunday, 3 August 2003, at 3:00 P.M. The Rennels Family has been very involved in both the history and restoration of this former way-side inn, 5 miles south east of Charleston, Illinois. Hundreds of covered wagons left from this site for the west and Abraham Lincoln supposedly watered his horse from the well while riding the court circuit. The Rennels Family Reunion contributed over $10,000.00 to the restoration project, besides countless volunteer man hours.

On Saturday, August 2nd we will have a genealogy research day, starting at 10:00 A.M. at the Charleston Public Library, with a special presentation on the Five Mile House by David Kent Coy at 1:00. Later in the afternoon we will tour the long-abandoned Stewart Family Cemetery in Hutton Township.

On Sunday, August 3rd we will meet at 12:30 P.M. at the Charleston VFW Hall for a potluck meal, followed by a short business meeting, then go on to the Five Mile House Dedication. The Rennels Fireplace in the east pavilion of Morton Park has also had some recent restoration work done and will be available for photographs.

For more information, please contact:
David Kent Coy
123 North 20th Street
Decatur, IL 62521-2114
(217) 420-4378
davidkentcoy@mcleodusa.net