Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameJames F. Brennan 
BirthMar 1870, Erie Co, NY
Census6 Jul 1870, Buffalo, Erie Co, NY
Memoroll#932, pg 364
Census25 Jun 1875, Buffalo, Erie Co, NY
MemoWard 3, pg 52
Census21 Jun 1880, Buffalo, Erie Co, NY
MemoED#166, pg 267
Census16 Feb 1892, Buffalo, Erie Co, NY
MemoWard 6, pg 11
Occupationbartender
Anst File#LB36-1N2
Misc. Notes
Son of Thomas P. Brennan (1848, CAN-1898, NY) and Amelia Sheltran (1851, CAN-1888, NY)
The family story is that James Brennan had a relationship with Emma and is the father of Ellen, even though William raised her as his own. He is also listed as Ellen’s father on her death certificate, which says he was born in New York.
James is listed as age 3 months in the July 1870 census with his parents, and J. F. Brennan in the 1875 NY census.
He is listed in 1880, age 10, with his parents, Thomas (31, CAN) and Amelia (28, CAN), 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
He is also listed with them in the 1885 and 1892 NY state census records, and in 1892 his wife Emma (20, NY) and daughter Myrtle (1, NY) is listed with them.
He is listed in the 1890 Buffalo city directory as a bartender.
James was convicted of Grand Larceny in the first degree for taking $650 in 1896, according to a lengthy article in the Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express - Sat, 25 Apr 1896. It includes reference to his father, Thomas J. Brennan testifying against him.
Emma filed for divorce as Emma R. Brennan in Aug 1901, the notice of which was published in the The Buffalo Review - Sat, 8 Feb 1902, pg 9.
The family story is that James Brennan had a relationship with Emma and is the father of Ellen, even though William raised her as his own. He is also listed as Ellen’s father on her death certificate, which says he was born in New York.
James is listed as age 3 months in the July 1870 census with his parents, and J. F. Brennan in the 1875 NY census.
He is listed in 1880, age 10, with his parents, Thomas (31, CAN) and Amelia (28, CAN), 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
He is also listed with them in the 1885 and 1892 NY state census records, and in 1892 his wife Emma (20, NY) and daughter Myrtle (1, NY) is listed with them.
He is listed in the 1890 Buffalo city directory as a bartender.
James was convicted of Grand Larceny in the first degree for taking $650 in 1896, according to a lengthy article in the Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express - Sat, 25 Apr 1896. It includes reference to his father, Thomas J. Brennan testifying against him.
Emma filed for divorce as Emma R. Brennan in Aug 1901, the notice of which was published in the The Buffalo Review - Sat, 8 Feb 1902, pg 9.
Spouses
Birth12 Dec 1869, Buffalo, Erie Co, NY
MemoHerman St. Buffalo
Death4 Nov 1947, Los Angeles Co, CA
BurialEast Lawn Memorial Park, Sacramento, Sacramento Co, CA
MemoCremated
Misc. Notes
Her parents were Heinrich “Henry” Reipe (1829 Hanover, Prussia/Germany-1914 Buffalo, NY) and Helene “Ellen” J. McTague (1849 England, Irish parents-1926 Buffalo, NY).
She is listed with them in Buffalo, NY at age 10 in 1880.
The family story is that James Brennan had a relationship with Emma and is the father of Ellen, even though William raised her as his own. This is confirmed by her listing as Emma Brennan (20, NY) living with James’ family in the 1892 NY state census. This was right after her daughter Ellen was born on 11 Jan 1892. Emma was also listed as Emma Brennan on her marriage record to William.
In 1900 she is listed as married nine years (sic), with her husband Wm Schorr and daughter Ellen, working in a candy store. Also living with them is her younger sister, Helene E. Reipe (b May 1877). Strangely, she filed for divorce from James Brennan on 15 Aug 1901, after which he was served papers on Jan 20th 1902; as published in The Buffalo Review - Sat, 8 Mar 1902, pg 9.
It is suspected that they may have fudged the marriage date for William and Emma, which is supported by the following story:
William had a club foot, and families worried about that trait being passed along. When Dorothy was pregnant with Sandy, Emma very shyly and painfully told Dorothy that she shouldn't worry that the baby would have a club foot because William was not Al's real grandfather. Sandy remembers this story from her own mother very clearly. She said the reason Emma was so pained at telling the story was because people didn't like to talk about divorce. They wondered whether Emma and James Brennan might not have been actually married, but Sandy says Emma was so proper and sweet she can't imagine her having a child out of wedlock. Also, the 1930 census states that she was first married at age 20.
By 1910 the 3 of them had moved to San Francisco.
In 1920 she and her husband are living in Reno, and her daughter and grandson are living with them.
They were still in Reno in 1930, on 4th St, with just Alfred living with them and using the Schorr surname.
And then just the two of them at 69 and 70 in 1940.
Died of (untreated) breast cancer.
[Obituary] Reno Gazette-Journal - Thurs, 6 Nov 1947, pg 4
Mrs. Schorr Dies In Los Angeles
Resident of Reno from 1907 until last year, Mrs. Emma Schorr died Tuesday in Los Angeles. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the chapel at East Lawn, Sacramento.
Mrs. Schorr was born in New York 78 years ago. She and her husband, William Schorr, came to Reno in 1907. Mr. Schorr died in Reno in 1921. A year ago Mrs. Schorr moved to Los Angeles to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. E. M. Coon.
Besides her daughter, she is survived by a grandson, Alfred Schorr of Reno, and two great grandchildren, Carolyn and Sandra Schorr.
She is listed with them in Buffalo, NY at age 10 in 1880.
The family story is that James Brennan had a relationship with Emma and is the father of Ellen, even though William raised her as his own. This is confirmed by her listing as Emma Brennan (20, NY) living with James’ family in the 1892 NY state census. This was right after her daughter Ellen was born on 11 Jan 1892. Emma was also listed as Emma Brennan on her marriage record to William.
In 1900 she is listed as married nine years (sic), with her husband Wm Schorr and daughter Ellen, working in a candy store. Also living with them is her younger sister, Helene E. Reipe (b May 1877). Strangely, she filed for divorce from James Brennan on 15 Aug 1901, after which he was served papers on Jan 20th 1902; as published in The Buffalo Review - Sat, 8 Mar 1902, pg 9.
It is suspected that they may have fudged the marriage date for William and Emma, which is supported by the following story:
William had a club foot, and families worried about that trait being passed along. When Dorothy was pregnant with Sandy, Emma very shyly and painfully told Dorothy that she shouldn't worry that the baby would have a club foot because William was not Al's real grandfather. Sandy remembers this story from her own mother very clearly. She said the reason Emma was so pained at telling the story was because people didn't like to talk about divorce. They wondered whether Emma and James Brennan might not have been actually married, but Sandy says Emma was so proper and sweet she can't imagine her having a child out of wedlock. Also, the 1930 census states that she was first married at age 20.
By 1910 the 3 of them had moved to San Francisco.
In 1920 she and her husband are living in Reno, and her daughter and grandson are living with them.
They were still in Reno in 1930, on 4th St, with just Alfred living with them and using the Schorr surname.
And then just the two of them at 69 and 70 in 1940.
Died of (untreated) breast cancer.
[Obituary] Reno Gazette-Journal - Thurs, 6 Nov 1947, pg 4
Mrs. Schorr Dies In Los Angeles
Resident of Reno from 1907 until last year, Mrs. Emma Schorr died Tuesday in Los Angeles. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the chapel at East Lawn, Sacramento.
Mrs. Schorr was born in New York 78 years ago. She and her husband, William Schorr, came to Reno in 1907. Mr. Schorr died in Reno in 1921. A year ago Mrs. Schorr moved to Los Angeles to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. E. M. Coon.
Besides her daughter, she is survived by a grandson, Alfred Schorr of Reno, and two great grandchildren, Carolyn and Sandra Schorr.
Marriage1890, New York
ChildrenEllen Myrtle (1892-1957)