James Madison Reno

  "The first mention of Reno in the county archives is the record of his marriage to Mrs. Charlotte H. Miller, a young divorcee with a nine year-old daughter. The marriage occurred in Carrollton on 3 June 1827. It is interesting to note that the bridgroom's name is spelled 'Reyno' on the marriage license, which may give some indication as to the manner James pronounced his surname."

      "On 13 June 1836, James Reno purchased lot number forty-eight on the west side of the Carrollton square from Lewis Williams, for $4,000. Actually, the deed records reveal that Reno and Williams merely made a trade. Reno obtained the property in exchange for two town lots which he deeded to Williams. Although no building is mentioned in the documents, it seems almost certain that the brick hotel was already standing. Originally it was assumed that Reno himself built the hotel, which still remains on the public square but it was erected by either Williams or a man named Blatchley C. Wood. Reno, however, certainly enlarged the edifice soon after he purchased it.

      "James Reno named his new possession the Union Hotel and he soon brought his family to live there. Marcus Reno, then about a year old, lived in the hotel until he left for West Point in 1851. Situated on what was then the main road to Alton and St. Louis, the Union Hotel served as the stagecoach stop, and it boasted of an excellent tavern. In addition to owning the Union Hotel, Reno was engaged in various other businesses with his brother Aaron and his brother-in-law Alfred Hinton..."

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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=29042807