1832 - 1973
The Wrenshall and Fauset Families
Following the death of Christopher Cowan in 1835, Woodville passed into the ownership of the Wrenshall family. This transfer by inheritance occurred through the marriage of the eldest Cowan daughter, Mary Ann (1812-1896), to John Fletcher Wrenshall (1802-1862). Like her mother and father's wedding in 1810 and that of her maternal grandparents in 1786, Mary Ann and John Fletcher Wrenshall also were married at Woodville, with the ceremony taking place in September 1832.
John Fletcher Wrenshall was the son of John Wrenshall. The elder Wrenshall apprenticed in England as an iron monger, but when he came to Pittsburgh, he operated a merchant store. As a lay minister, he is also credited with the introduction of Methodism to Western Pennsylvania.
1836
Hope Cotton Factory
Like his father-in-law before him, John Fletcher Wrenshall continued to tenant out parts of the Woodville farm, but he also was a businessman and in the ante-bellum period had business interests in the Hope Cotton Mill, located in the former city of Allegheny, now Pittsburgh's Northside neighborhood. He had an office in architect John Chislett's 1836 Burke Building, located on Fourth Avenue, the oldest office building still remaining in Pittsburgh.
Aqueduct crossing to Allegany City and Hope Cotton Factoy.
1862
Private Country Home
John Fletcher Wrenshall and Mary Ann Cowan Wrenshall called Woodville their home until John Fletcher's death in 1862. Mary Ann continued to live at and operate the farm with the help of one of her sons, William Ebbs Wrenshall (known to the family as "Willie" or "Spot") until her death in 1896. "Spot" also continued to farm and live at Woodville until he died in 1927. Woodville then became the private country home of his daughter, Mary Bennington Wrenshall (1895-1973) , and her husband, Pittsburgh banking and insurance man, Joseph Fauset. Like several other family members who lived at Woodville over the years, the Fauset’s also were married at the house in 1923. She is shown here on her wedding day in 1923 posed on the staircase at Woodville. Mary not only grew up at Woodville but returned there to live until her death. She was passionately concerned with Woodville's preservation throughout her adult life, and even declined her husband's offer to tear Woodville down and build her a new home on the site. She collected and preserved numerous Cowan and Wrenshall family papers, paintings, and photographs which contribute extensively to our present day understanding of Woodville's rich history. The photograph was given to the Neville House Associates, Inc. in 2012 by Sarah Wrenshall Steinmark and her husband, Edgar Steinmark, a niece of Mrs. Fauset.
When Mary Wrenshall Fauset died in 1973, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation acquired the Woodville property through purchase. In 2007, the Neville House Associates, took ownership of the house and are responsible for the maintenance, restoration and interpretation today.
1895-1973
Mary Bennington Wrenshall Fauset
Mary Bennington Wrenshall Fauset,1895-1973, daughter of William Ebbs Wrenshall and wife of Joseph Fauset. She is shown here on her wedding day in 1923 posed on the staircase at Woodville, one of a number of weddings that took place in the house beginning in 1786 that link its four resident families. Mary not only grew up at Woodville but returned there to live after she married and until her death in 1973. She was passionately concerned with Woodville's preservation throughout her adult life. She declined her husband's offer to tear it down and build her a new home, and she preserved numerous Cowan and Wrenshall family papers, paintings, and photographs that contribute extensively to Woodville's rich historical tapestry. The photograph was given to the Neville House Associates, Inc. in 2012 by Sarah Wrenshall Steinmark and her husband, Edgar Steinmark.
