My Genealogy Hound

MARTIN L. FENTON, one of the leading lumber dealers of western New York and a member of the well-known lumber firm of M. L. Fenton & Co., of Jamestown, is a son of George W., Jr., and Mitta (Howard) Fenton, and was born in the town of Carroll, Chautauqua county, New York, February 1, 1839. His paternal grandfather, George W. Fenton, was born in Connecticut, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Chautauqua county. He came first to near Sheridan Centre, but subsequently removed to what is now the town of Carroll, where he purchased, in March, 1810, lot 52 from the Holland Land company. He followed lumbering for several years, running his rafts to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis. He married Elsie Owen, a daughter of Ira Owen, who was a celebrated marksman and served in the war of 1812, and whose father, John Owen, served in the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars, and died in 1843, aged one hundred and seven years. Mr. Fenton died March 3, 1860, and his widow, who was born July 8, 1790, passed away February 26, 1875. Their children were: Roswell O., George W., Jr., William H. H., John F. and Hon. Reuben E. Fenton, ex-governor of New York and ex-United States Senator. The second son, George W., Jr. (father), was born in 1812 in Carroll, where he has always resided and been engaged in lumbering and farming. He is a Baptist and republican, and married Mitta, daughter of Luther Howard. They have six children living and one dead: Thomas, of Frewsburg; Welthy, the wife of Prof George Georgi, of Jamestown; Martin L.; Ann E., widow of John Frew; Laura, wife of C. A. Haynes, of Plainfield, N. J.; Lucy M., who married Dr. Prittle, of Detroit, Michigan; and Alice, now deceased.

Martin L. Fenton attended Fredonia academy, and entered Union college of Schenectady, N. Y. He also attended a Cincinnati college for two years and was graduated from a commercial college in Buffalo, N. Y. Leaving school he and C. L. Norton, in 1860, engaged in the general mercantile business at Frewsburg, which they continued until 1864, when Mr. Norton was elected county clerk, and the store was conducted two years longer by Mr. Fenton. In 1866 he came to Jamestown, where he was engaged for four years with H. W. Tew in a hardware store. At the end of that time, in 1870, he organized a lumbering company under the firm name of M. L. Fenton & Co., and they cut and ship from eight to ten million feet of lumber per year. He also deals largely in real estate, and probably owns more houses in Jamestown than any one else in that city.

On March 19, 1863, he united in marriage with Alice Tew, daughter of William Tew, a prominent citizen of Jamestown. They are the parents of two children: Harry W., born June 13, 1873, and now attending school at Concord, New Hampshire; and Gertrude, born June 27, 1888.

Martin L. Fenton is one of the largest tax-payers in the city of Jamestown, which he has made his home for over twenty years. He is a republican in politics and a member of the Jamestown Independent Congregational church, which was organized (by Dr. Townsend) in June, 1886.