My Genealogy Hound

HON. MILTON M. FENNER. We may look about us and often see a man who has gained prominence in business, politics, or upon his military record, but a man who has silvered locks and enjoys an extensive acquaintance with his fellow-men may turn his mind to meditation and scarce can count a quartette who have become eminent in all. Such however may be truthfully said of Hon. M. M. Fenner, who is the seventh child of a family of nine, born to Christopher C. and Lucinda (Fross) Fenner. He came into the world July 28, 1837, at the old homestead belonging to his father in South Stockton, New York. The ancestors on both sides were of English extraction — grandfather, Resolved W. Fenner, being a native of Rhode Island. He was a descendant of Rev. W. Fenner, a noted Puritan divine, from whom came Arthur, James, and James Jr., Fenner, all of whom occupied the Gubernatorial chair in the State of Rhode Island between 1790 and 1845. Resolved W. Fenner went to Madison county, N. Y., in 1800, and there is a town in that county named in his honor. He came to Ellery, Chautauqua county, New York, in 1819 and remained there until he died in 1847. Rufus Fross was a native of Kinderhook, Columbia county, New York. From there he went to Litchfield, Herkimer county, New York, and married, and then came to the town of Chautauqua, this county, in 1810, locating on the farm where he resided until his death in 1846. He served in the war of 1812 and was present at the burning of Buffalo. Subject’s father, Christopher C. Fenner, was born in Brookfield, Madison county, in 1801, and came to this county with Newell Putnam when sixteen years of age. Two years later the family came and took up a tract of land lying on Cassadaga creek. He united in marriage with Lucinda Fross, in 1826, and conducted his farm until his death in 1850. Of nine children born to Christopher C. Fenner, eight are yet living. Both he and his wife were hard-working and frugal in their habits and living, and possessed the highest sense of honor. No debt that they ever contracted remained unsettled and this motto, “pay everything you owe,” was so firmly impressed on the minds of their children that the lesson was never forgotten. Hard work and privations caused the health of the father to fail before he reached that age when man should be his best, and this coupled with the large family of children and unfortunate financial ventures kept the family for many years on the verge of destitution.

M. M. Fenner inherited the seemingly untiring energy of his mother; the ambition and strong integrity and strict honesty of both parents. He was but thirteen years of age when he lost his father, and was thrown upon his own resources. Being thus obliged to toil for a mere existence, he early acquired habits of industry and economy, which have been potential factors in his life’s success. For five years succeeding his father’s death he was either employed working his mother’s farm, or as a farm hand by the neighbors. The summer he was sixteen years old he worked four months for David Smith, of Stockton, and instead of losing any time, he made five extra days, working nights at “stents.” From eighteen to twenty he worked the homestead in partnership with his brother, and acquired an interest in the personal property. They cleared some “new ground,” and followed dairying and stock-raising. His early dreams were thinking of the time when he should have knowledge, and when prepared he entered Allegheny college, of Meadville, Pa., and attended its sessions, spending the vacations at work to secure money for paying his way. Before he reached twenty-five he had taught seven terms of public and select schools in New York and Michigan, and found time to read and learn the preliminary course in the study of medicine. He then attended a Medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio, and obtained the degree of M.D. on May 22, 1860. Doctor Fenner first practiced in the city of Flint, Michigan, beginning immediately after he received his degree, but July 12, 1861, only a year after, his patriotism compelled him to give up his newly-established practice and enlist as a private in company A, 8th Michigan regiment, that was recruited by Col. William M. Fenton, ex-lieutenant-governor of that State. He was appointed hospital steward of the regiment and war correspondent for a couple of the leading State papers. Soon after getting into active service he was promoted to a second lieutenancy for valorous conduct, and was assigned to duty in Co. I, of the same regiment. They were under fire at the battle of Coosaw river, S. C., January 1, 1862, and in April of the same year, the captain and first lieutenant, having resigned, he commanded his company during the siege that resulted in the fall of Fort Pulaski. He commanded the outpost station at Spanish Wells, on Hilton Head Island, S. C., during the night attack and attempted burning of that place by the Confederates, March 12, 1863. In the latter part of May, 1862, he was appointed to service in the signal corps and assigned to General Hunter’s staff at Hilton Head. For meritorious conduct he was commissioned first lieutenant, October 1, 1862. He was in the trenches at the fall of Fort Wagner, Charleston Harbor, in July, 1863. Col. Fenton said of him in a letter to Governor Blair of Michigan, dated May 14, 1863: “I take the liberty, although not now in service, of cordially recommending him (first lieutenant M. M. Fenner) to further promotion. My connection with the 8th regiment and previous acquaintance with Dr. Fenner enable me to speak understandingly, and to say that in my opinion such an appointment would prove advantageous to the service. His experience in the field as hospital steward of the 8th regiment, and subsequently as lieutenant in command of a company, and his efficiency in every position in which he has been placed, as well as his sterling moral virtue and irreproachable private character, entitle him to high consideration. He may be relied on as competent and worthy.”

In April, 1863, he came north to Brooklyn, in response to an invitation extended by the Secretary of the Navy, passed an examination and received a commission as assistant surgeon, U. S. Navy, from Secretary Welles, in May, 1863, but owing to the active operations about Charleston, and the prospects of a fight, he decided to remain for a time in the army, which he did, until after the fall of Fort Wagner. Dr. Fenner was a member of Admiral Dahlgren’s staffs, and was on board the flagship in the naval night attack upon Fort Sumter. In the spring of 1864 he came north on a leave of absence, when, seeing a good opening at Jamestown, near his early home, he resigned his commission and began to practice his profession, in which he was eminently successful. But when the speculation excitement in the oil regions broke out and was carrying everything before it, he, and many others from the vicinity of Jamestown, went down and spent the winter of 1864—65 in western Pennsylvania. Like many others he was unfortunate, and returned to Jamestown in the summer of 1865, with a light purse, but his heart was not heavy, and with renewed energy, he went to work to reclaim his scattered fortunes. The publication of “The Medical Progress” was one of his ventures, and large editions were distributed. In 1866 Dr. Fenner was appointed city physician, and held that position until he departed from Jamestown.

On June 5, 1866, he married Georgiana Grandin, a daughter of Daniel H. Grandin, an extensive woolen manufacturer of Jamestown.

During the month of May he delivered the annual address to the Eclectic Medical society of the Thirty-second Senatorial District. Two years later, in the course of a similar address, given to the same society of the State of New York, he made this utterance, which was widely commented upon: “Liberality of principle, scope of thought and research, untiring energy and unswerving devotion are the requisites in the medical man to extended success in the treatment of all affections, both acute and chronic, simple and complex, ranging from an influenza to a grave typhoid, a simple ulcer to a scirrhous cancer, a bronchial cough to a grave consumption.” In March, 1869, he disposed of his large practice at Jamestown, settled up his “oil region losses,” dollar for dollar, and in July of that year located at Fredonia, where he established his “People’s Dispensary of Medicine and Surgery;” resumed the publication of “The Medical Progress” and soon secured a larger practice than he had left. In 1870 the United States government appointed him examining surgeon, and in 1872 the Eclectic Medical society of the State of New York elected him its president. Dr. Fenner is a prominent lecturer before medical societies, and a monographer of National reputation through his contributions to medical journals. He was one of the earliest promoters of the Dunkirk and Fredonia R. R., and has been its president, secretary, treasurer and manager.

Politically he is one of the most prominent men in western New York. He has always displayed an acute interest in the Republican party. His popularity is best shown by the fact that when first a candidate for office — that of supervisor of the town of Pomfret, although the district for several years had given majorities for candidates of the opposite party — he was elected by a majority of one hundred and sixteen. The next year he was elected with a majority increased to two hundred and eighty-two, and at the following election, when running for the Assembly, the Pomfret district swelled his majority to three hundred and ten, while the Assembly district made his total majority over his opponent two thousand five hundred and ninety-five, the largest ever given a candidate in that district. When the republicans again took control of the government, after Cleveland’s administration, Hon. M. M. Fenner was appointed deputy collector of the port of New York, which position he is now filling with credit and honor. Although his duties in the office compel him to spend a great portion of his time in New York city, his family remain at their home in Fredonia, where his personal business interests are all located. Mr. Fenner is courteous, straightforward and cordial in his intercourse with men, and his affability makes him many warm friends. Industrious and painstaking in his business, he always discharges the most minute details of his work with the same care that characterizes his transactions of greater magnitude. The utmost system is observed in his office, and he has his large business so thoroughly under control that he seems to handle it with but slight effort. Among his business associates his word is as good as his bond, and his check will as readily pass current as the cash. Hon. M. M. Fenner is a bright example of the possibilities of an American youth who is possessed of sound sense and a determined and unconquerable will.