My Genealogy Hound

REV. WILLIAM H. FENTON was born in West Mina, Chautauqua county, New York, December 6, 1864, and is a son of Robert H. Fenton, a native of eastern New York. His father’s occupation was that of an engineer, in the pursuit of which vocation he spent most of his life in the State of New York and in the oil territory of Pennsylvania. Politically he cast his vote with the Republican party, and, as regards matters of religion, he did not ally himself with any denomination until a short period prior to his death, which occurred at the age of forty-five years. His grandfather, Azan Fenton, came into Chautauqua county when in middle life, and remained here until his death at West Mina, at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. He was a man possessing a somewhat remarkable eye-sight, who even to his last moment was able to read distinctly without the artificial aid of glasses. Azan Fenton was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which faith he had been converted when but thirteen years of age. His firm faith in the efficacy of the Christian religion and in its power to give comfort through all the moments of depression which are wont to harass every life, was his mainstay and source of hope throughout all his declining years.

William H. Fenton spent the years of his youth in the village of North Clymer, New York, as the adopted son of Sanford Fox; received his elementary education in the common schools of his native village, which was afterwards supplemented by a course of study at Chamberlain Institute and Female college, Randolph, New York, from which institution of learning he was graduated at the age of twenty-three. He taught music in Chautauqua county and in Pennsylvania from the time he was nineteen years old, and also for a time after his graduation, after which he supplied various pulpits as a local preacher in western New York and Pennsylvania, and finally became a presiding minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He has occupied his present position as pastor at Sinclairville for about a year, with a gratifying and encouraging outlook for the future prosperity of the church. Rev. Mr. Fenton is a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance, in which he holds the position of chaplain. He is republican in politics.

On August 6, 1890, Rev. Mr. Fenton was united in marriage to a daughter of P. L. Wright, of Wrightsville, Warren county, Pa.