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George Lawson Wrenn was born on January 7, 1808, in Loudoun, Virginia to Thomas Wrenn and Joanna Catherine Brent. His siblings were:
He married Mary Jane Duffield on September 4, 1833, in Hamilton County, Ohio. They had nine children:
Many Wrenn and Duffield descendants have a copy of the typed "Autobiography of Mary Jane Duffield Wrenn: Reminiscences of my early life. Written at the earnest request of my grandson Charles Duffield Wrenn Halsey", written in 1898 by Charles Duffield Wrenn Halsey. It is a fascinating 48 pages or so about her life and her beliefs. Note: "While visiting my grandmother Wrenn at the family homestead in Middletown, Ohio in the summer of 1897, I wrote up notes of her early recollections, going back to the 1820s, and also made up a genealogical record from the family bibles in her own and the Smith Wrenn homes. All the papers were mislaid. The family records were never found, but the notes later turned up among records of an uncle who had died. Charles D. W. Halsey (1943) Introduction by James H. Bell (1990) [excerpt] … Sometime after the notes were found my grandfather, Charles Halsey, shaped them into the narrative you see here. His father now retired, typed the manuscript up. Years later it passed from my grandfather to his eldest daughter Eleanor, his mother's namesake. On her death the family archives were divided, and while a considerable portion of them entered my safekeeping the Autobiography of Mary Jane Duffield Wrenn was not among them. I did not learn it existed until two years ago, when my dear Aunt Kay, knowing that she had not many more months to live, asked me to take and preserve it and make copies for all the family. ... Copies made and distributed to family members by James Halsey Bell (1939-2011) during the 1990's. Notes taken 1897; written up later.
George Lawson Wrenn moved to Middletown, Ohio from Winchester, Virginia in July of 1831. He was over 6 feet tall with very long legs and was known as the "the long-legged Virginian". He came to clerk in Jonathan Martin's dry goods store upon the recommendation of his friend, Francis J Tytus who was also from Winchester. After a few months Mr Martin died and Tytus and Wrenn bought out the store and went into a successful partnership in the spring of 1832.
On April 1, 1833 he was one of five trustees elected when Middletown was first incorporated. F.J. Tytus was chosen as recorder.
He was married to Mary Jane Duffield on 4 Sep 1833 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio by Rev Samuel W Lynd. They honeymooned in Virginia.
From the Autobiography of Mary Jane Duffield Wrenn: "…first lived next door to the hotel, in the old brick house built by Jonathan Martin which stood on the site now occupied by S. Goldman's store." "In April [1839] we moved next door on the site where the United States Hotel now stands. …lived in it …1839."
March 27, 1839 • Broad Street, near 4th, Middletown, Butler, Ohio paid Jacob Williamson $1100 for land "six poles wide on broad street and twelve poles long". Deed recorded March 29. A pole is 12.5'.
1840-1852 • Broad Street, Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, United States 1840 Census: 5 people in the household, including 2 boys. Moved in to house on Broad(way) in April 1840; moved out in July 1852. 4 children were born there.
Spring, 1846 • Mill Creek, Middletown, Ohio, USA George's stage tipped over in Mill Creek and he almost drowned. His whole life passed before him while underwater. Dragged out of creek by another passenger.
1850 • Middletown, Butler, Ohio Occupation: Merchant
Jan 1851 • Middletown, Ohio, USA He and partner Frank Tytus baptized by J G Bowman in the Miami River.
1860 • Middletown, Butler, Ohio Occupation: Pork merchant
14 nov 1860 • Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States Was becoming more and more fatigued. Cast his last vote for Abraham Lincoln and died the next Tuesday. Died at the age of 52.
November 17, 1860 • Middletown Historical Pioneer Cemetery, Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, USA "Funeral from the Baptist Church on Friday [Nov 17]. The house was crowded. He was beloved and respected by all. A.S. Watson, his pastor, preached an appropriate sermon…."
1860- • Middletown, Butler County, Ohio Died intestate. Son George was administrator; son John took inventory and kept the books. Joseph Sutphin, Francis J. Tytus appraisers. $1000 and household items set off for support of his widow and minor children. Interest in his firm valued at $23,525
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Categories: Middletown Cemetery, Middletown, Ohio