Wrenn Family

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With the demo of the Wrenn Paper Company I thought you might enjoy reading this obit

November 2, 1934    Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio
 LAST SURVIVOR OF PIONEER FAMILY OF THIS CITY DIES; SUFFERED STROKE RECENTLY
 Miss Kate B. Wrenn, Daughter Of One Of Founders Of Paper Mill Firm 
   Miss Kate B. Wrenn, daughter of the late Allen S. Wren, one of the founders of the Wrenn Paper Company, died Friday morning at 11 o'clock at the home of Mrs. George B. Shafor, of 517 South Main Street. She was 75 years old.
 In ill health about a year, Miss Wrenn suffered a stroke of paralysis three years ago and for the past week had lain in a coma without recognizing the close attention of a wide circle of friends, who mourn her death and regret the passing of a former substantial and influential woman of Middletown.
    Miss Wren was the last survivor of the five children of Allen S. and Parthenia Wrenn, whose names are written indeliby into the early history of Middletown. 
 OLD HOME STANDS
   Memory of the Wrenn family always takes older Middletonians to the happy times when Mr. and Mrs. Wrenn and five children occupied the old brick home which still stands on the south west corner of Main and Manchester Avenue. This was the Wrenn homestead and about it always cling memories of the years when they occupied it and important happenings for Middletown radiated from it.
   A short distance away, in the old brick house now occupied by the "Kopper Kettle," a brother of Mr. Wrenn (George L.) lived. Both homes were considered among the finer in Middletown at the time and were pointed out for their beauty of architecture and the prominence of the families they protected.
   Mr. Wrenn came to Middletown early in life from Fairfax County, Virginia, where he was born in 1815. He was married to Parthenia Taylor, daughter of David Taylor and Joanna Enyart, of Middletown in 1845. To them five children were born, Thomas A., Edward, Mary, Charles, and Kate B.
    Since the death of her parents, many years ago, Miss Wrenn had made her home among her friends. Early in the summer she took up residence with Mrs. Shafor, after having spent several years with Miss Bessie Harding, of Excello.
   With Joseph Sutphin as his partner, A.S. Wrenn founded the Wrenn Paper Company which played a prominent part in the publishing of newspapers during the Civil War. Newsprint was then a scarcity and it was the local mill which furnished the Cincinnati Enquirer all of the material on which were printed its editions carrying news from the Confederate and Northern lines. 
 CHANGES HANDS
   With the passing of A.S.Wrenn, his stock in the company fell to his children and other relatives and eventually became the property of the late Austin Smith and John Gibson, Jr. They organized the corporation which is today known as the Wrenn Paper Company.
   Miss Wrenn was a member of the First Baptist Church all of her life and recognized as one of its most earnest promoters.
   Miss Wrenn's only survivors are nieces and nephews in the east who are now enroute for the funeral service. Arrangements for the funeral will be made later.

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Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Wrenn Family Posted: Jan 13 2011 at 4:22pm
	With the demo of the Wrenn Paper Company I thought you might enjoy reading this obit November 2, 1934 Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio LAST SURVIVOR OF PIONEER FAMILY OF THIS CITY DIES; SUFFERED STROKE RECENTLY Miss Kate B. Wrenn, Daughter Of One Of Founders Of Paper Mill Firm Miss Kate B. Wrenn, daughter of the late Allen S. Wren, one of the founders of the Wrenn Paper Company, died Friday morning at 11 o'clock at the home of Mrs. George B. Shafor, of 517 South Main Street. She was 75 years old. In ill health about a year, Miss Wrenn suffered a stroke of paralysis three years ago and for the past week had lain in a coma without recognizing the close attention of a wide circle of friends, who mourn her death and regret the passing of a former substantial and influential woman of Middletown. Miss Wren was the last survivor of the five children of Allen S. and Parthenia Wrenn, whose names are written indeliby into the early history of Middletown. OLD HOME STANDS Memory of the Wrenn family always takes older Middletonians to the happy times when Mr. and Mrs. Wrenn and five children occupied the old brick home which still stands on the south west corner of Main and Manchester Avenue. This was the Wrenn homestead and about it always cling memories of the years when they occupied it and important happenings for Middletown radiated from it. A short distance away, in the old brick house now occupied by the "Kopper Kettle," a brother of Mr. Wrenn (George L.) lived. Both homes were considered among the finer in Middletown at the time and were pointed out for their beauty of architecture and the prominence of the families they protected. Mr. Wrenn came to Middletown early in life from Fairfax County, Virginia, where he was born in 1815. He was married to Parthenia Taylor, daughter of David Taylor and Joanna Enyart, of Middletown in 1845. To them five children were born, Thomas A., Edward, Mary, Charles, and Kate B. Since the death of her parents, many years ago, Miss Wrenn had made her home among her friends. Early in the summer she took up residence with Mrs. Shafor, after having spent several years with Miss Bessie Harding, of Excello. With Joseph Sutphin as his partner, A.S. Wrenn founded the Wrenn Paper Company which played a prominent part in the publishing of newspapers during the Civil War. Newsprint was then a scarcity and it was the local mill which furnished the Cincinnati Enquirer all of the material on which were printed its editions carrying news from the Confederate and Northern lines. CHANGES HANDS With the passing of A.S.Wrenn, his stock in the company fell to his children and other relatives and eventually became the property of the late Austin Smith and John Gibson, Jr. They organized the corporation which is today known as the Wrenn Paper Company. Miss Wrenn was a member of the First Baptist Church all of her life and recognized as one of its most earnest promoters. Miss Wrenn's only survivors are nieces and nephews in the east who are now enroute for the funeral service. Arrangements for the funeral will be made later.

Steve Lewis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Outsider Joined: Dec 30 2010 Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve Lewis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan 13 2011 at 6:14pm
	Vivian, I can remember when one of the daughters would come into the store and spend an hour talking to my grandmother when looking at jewelery. Beyond nice and cared very much for our city. Sorry to hear of her passing thank you for the info.
	Steve Lewis

swohio75 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 13 2008 Status: Offline Points: 820	Post Options Post Reply Quote swohio75 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan 13 2011 at 9:12pm
	Thanks for sharing Vivian. Always enjoy reading Middletown's history.

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan 13 2011 at 9:29pm
	*The A. S. Wrenn Family has a beautiful large stone in the S W back corner of the Middletown Cemetery.*

swohio75 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 13 2008 Status: Offline Points: 820	Post Options Post Reply Quote swohio75 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan 13 2011 at 9:39pm
	I assume the Wrenn homes are gone as a result of "urban renewal" of the 1960s and 1970s?