----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 09/16/1926

Wren, Sereno (10 NOV 1842 - 12 Sep 1926)

Sereno Wren, one of the oldest residents of Clark County, Wis., passed away Sunday night, Sept. 12, 1926, at the home of R. B. French in the town of Levis. Although Mr. Wren had been failing in health for some time he was confined to the bed for only five or six weeks previous to his death.

Mr. Wren was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Nov 10, 1842. His parents were born in Virginia and were Quakers of English descent. They moved to Tennessee, where the father died in 1862. The mother and other members of the family moved to Iowa. In 1862 Sereno came first to Clark County on a hunting trip, carrying his rifle and pack all the way on foot. For two or three years he hunted over various parts of the county and worked in the lumber camps. In 1867 he went to work on the farm of B. F. French in the town of Levis and stayed there two years. He then bought 80 acres a mile south of Kurth's Corners. Here he stayed three years and sold out, buying later 240 acres in Section 17, town of Grant. Meanwhile he had married and on this land he started to make a home, working in the lumber camps in the winter. He developed a fine farm and erected good farm buildings. In 1881 he erected a saw mill, which he operated for many years. Mr. Wren for a number of seasons operated a threshing machine and had the first traction engine in the county. About 7 years ago he sold the farm to Homer Ralph.

Mr. Wren was first married to Aleda Hatch of Kankakee, Ill., who came here with her parents and settled on a farm in Pine Valley, a mile west of Neillsville. To them were born seven children: Marion of Washougal, Wash., Lamont and Frank of Hawthorne, Cal., Nettie, Mrs. Babtie of Seattle, Earl and Lemuel of Washougal, and Thomas Wren of Neillsville. Mrs. Wren died at Columbus, Wash., Sept. 9, 1891, later Mr. Wren married Mrs. Sarah Smith, who is also deceased. He leaves two brothers, Lemuel of West Branch, Iowa, and Walter of Iowa City.

Mr. Wren was a man of uprightness and honest. He was much interested in the affairs of the world, and read quite widely. He was much attached to his old friends and neighbors. Since selling his farm he made his home much of the time with Mr. and Mrs. R. B. French of Levis, where he was most kindly cared for until death called him home. Although not a member of any church he lived the life of a real Christian. The funeral was held at the M. E. Church Tuesday afternoon, Rev. S. J. Lambright officiating. The remains were taken to West Branch, Iowa, for burial in the family lot, the brother Lemuel accompanying the body.