Edward Wren

1. 13 children, Wren.

mar 2ndly, 1898, to Josephine Hickie [born 28 May 1876],
Littur is not far from Killelton,
she moved to his home in Springfield, Ohio,
living (must be 1115) North Limestone St, Springfield, at dau's death 1900,
he built "The Cliff House" in Ballybunion, Co.Kerry, for her father,
their wealth helped a number of her siblings move to US,
the Edward Wren company's store moved 1903 to new building, East High St, Springfield, this was Springfield's first large department store,
he moved 1912 to a new house at the beach, Rockaway Park, at Far Rockaway Beach, Long Island, New York, (beside NYC),
he still ran business in Springfield and on E coast,
obituary 1917 still lists the Wren residence at 1115 North Limestone St, Springfield, Ohio,
he worshipped at St. Raphael Catholic church, Springfield,
he also had summer home in the White Mountains, New Hampshire,
he died Thur 25 Oct 1917 at his home, Rockaway Park, NY, age 68 yrs,
see obituary, Daily News, Springfield, Ohio, Friday, October 26, 1917, describes him as "merchant prince, former resident of Springfield and founder of the Edward Wren company's dry goods store in this city",
obituary says body brought from NY back to Springfield, funeral St. Raphael church, Springfield, Mon 29 Oct,
he must have been bur temporarily in Springfield, and then the body taken back to NY in Feb 1918,
he was bur 26 Feb 1918 in the new Wren Mausoleum that Josephine built in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery (Catholic), Hawthorne, NY, the Wren Mausoleum is nr grave of Babe Ruth,

Josephine's obituary says the business was sold c.1920,
it was apparently sold for $1 m, this is $10-50 m in today's money,
Wren's merged into Block's, which later merged into the Allied Stores chain,
Josephine's obituary says "she left Springfield about 1925", and travelled widely, living at times in Washington, D.C., in London, and in Ottawa, Canada,
she apparently is much mentioned in the society pages of the day, family called her "Brammy",
she lived in her last years at the New Weston Hotel (Madison Ave and 49th or 50th St), New York (see map),
she died New York, Sun 4 Sep 1949, age 73 yrs,
see obituary, Daily News, Springfield, Ohio, Monday, September 5, 1949,
funeral Wed 7 Sept in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York,
bur 7 Sept, Wren Mausoleum, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, NY,
had issue by 2nd wife:

1. Genevieve Wren,
   or "Mary Genieve", born May 1899,
   died an infant, Springfield, Ohio, Sun 5 Aug 1900, age 15 months,
   see death notice, Daily Morning Sun, Springfield, Ohio, Monday, August 6, 1900,
   there was a family story that she choked on skin of a peach, though death notice says she died of "congestion of the brain",
   funeral Tue 7 Aug, bur Lagonda avenue cemetery, Springfield.

   
   

2. Angela Wren, born 24 Apr 1902, Springfield, Ohio,
   think educ in England and France,
   mar 25 Jan 1922 to Brendan Quin [John Brendan Quin, NOT Quinn, born 1889],
   they lived internationally, summer in Dublin, winter in France,
   lived in New York during WW2,
   she is listed as "of London" at mother's death 1949,
   he died England, 1959, age 70 yrs,
   she took great interest in ancestry, did lot of research, [O'Rahilly family tree] was drawn up for her by Ann O'Rahilly 1961,
   she was good friend of Sighle Humphreys,
   she died England, Aug 1965, age 63 yrs, NOT 1964,
   bur August 31, 1965, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY,
   had issue:
   1. Hilary Quin,
      Angela Hilary, think NOT Josephine Angela Hilary,
      born 16 Jan 1923, New York City,
      mar pre-1947 to Peter Vaughan-Fowler and had issue.

   2. Wren Quin,
      Brendan Edward Wren Quin,
      born NYC, 24 Oct 1924, NOT 1925,
      didn't marry,
      died NYC, Mar 1967, age 42 yrs,
      bur March 14, 1967, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.

   
   

3. Ursula Wren,
   Pauline Ursula, think NOT Ursule, born 24 June 1904,
   had Down syndrome,
   died unmarried 1920, age 16 yrs, NOT 1919,
   bur August 27, 1920, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, NY.

4. Malcolm Wren,
   Malcolm Edward, born USA, 1 July 1905, NOT 1904,
   didn't marry,
   he is described as living with mother at New Weston Hotel, New York, at mother's death 1949,
   died Dublin, Jan 1969, age 63 yrs, NOT 1974,
   bur January 8, 1969, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, NY.

The Wren Mausoleum, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.
Photo courtesy of Jenny Wren.
See full size.

The house in Rockaway, New York

Edward Wren's house at the beach in Rockaway, New York.

The house in Rockaway today. It is now an old-age home.

• Wren obituaries, Ohio

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