WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
HORTENSE McQUARRIE ODLUM
(business woman, philanthropist)
BIOGRAPHY
Hortense "Tenny" McQuarrie was born in St. George on July 17, 1891.Hortense married Floyd Edward Manges on December 25, 1912, but he died.
Around 1915, Hortense married a local law clerk, Floyd Bostwich Odlum. Their first child was born in February
of 1916. Later in 1916, Floyd accepted a job with a New York law firm and the young family moved back there.
As part of his law work, Floyd became president of the Atlas Corporation which took over the troubled retailer,
Bonwit Teller, in 1934. Hortense was a good shopper and Floyd appointed her as president of Bonwit Teller.
Within two years, she had turned the store around from near backruptcy to prosperity. She stayed on as
president until 1940 and then as chairman from 1940 to 1944.
Hortense donated $17,000 for construction of the McQuarrie Memorial Museum named in honor of her pioneer
grandparents. She also commissioned her personal architect to assist in the design and construction. Hortense
spoke at the dedication of the museum on June 17, 1938.
She wrote a book called "A Woman's Place" about her experiences. It was published in 1938.
Floyd & Hortense were divorce in 1935.
Hortense married Dr. Porfirio Dominici, but that marriage was annuled in 1938.
Hortense died in Indio California on January 12, 1970.
FAMILY
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Parents and Siblings:
Hector Allen McQuarrie Ella Carr Gardner McQuarrie Zella McQuarrie Hector Allen McQuarrie Hortense McQuarrie Laura Marie McQuarrie Annie McQuarrie Rulon Joseph McQuarrie |
(8/8/1862-2/9/1926) (married 12/4/1883) (12/3/1866-12/7/1943) (6/12/1885-7/9/1976) (married Horace Hudson Walker) (8/8/1888-11/29/1943) (married Hazel Dolan) (7/17/1891-1/12/1970) (married as shown beow) (11/23/1894-2/23/1950) (married Elmer Miller, Clarence Walter Christensen, and Harold Edgar Hemingway) (5/11/1897-5/11/2002) (married Lorenzo Boyd Hatch) (6/5/1901-8/5/1964) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) |
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First Husband: Floyd Edward Manges |
(xx/xx/1884-xx/xx/xxxx) (married 12/25/1912) |
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Second Husband and Children: Floyd Bostwich Odlum Stanley Arnold Odlum Bruce Wendell Odlum |
(3/30/1892-6/17/1976) (married xx/xx/1915) (2/13/1916-3/15/1967) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/1922-xx/xx/1977) (married Mareile Beate Erlanger) |
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Third Husband: Dr. Porfirio Dominici |
(xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married xx/xx/xxxx; annuled in 1938) |
PHOTOS
 Painting of Hortense |
 Photo of Hortense |
 Photo of Hortense |
 Photo of Floyd Odlum |
 Photo of Ella McQuarrie |
REFERENCES
Wikipedia article on Hortense OdlumBiographies.net biography of Hortense Odlum
Hortense McQuarrie Odlum's relationship with her nephew, Robert Walker
FamilySearch entry for Hortense McQuerrie
Hortense Odlum obituary from the New York Times, January 13, 1970, Page 45
For the New York Times version, click here.
Living History: Utahn revitalized Manhattan clothing store
Article by Ardis E. Parshall, The Salt Lake Tribune, April 14, 2012
Daughters of the American Revolution names its Women in History recipients for 2018
Article by Andrew Pinckney, St. George News, January 11, 2019