Scioto County, Ohio - Chapter 5: Scioto County in Congress, 1903 (part 2 of 2)

He had some subtle unknown charm, of which he was unconscious, but which made him friends everywhere and attached them to him by indissolvable bonds. His patriotism during the war was ardent, and never failed. It was just as strong in peace. All he achieved, all he accomplished in his brief career was his own. He had no rich or powerful family friends; he had no aid or assistance whatever and his friends were all made on-his own merits. He was. generous beyond all precedents, and any one deserving sympathy received the greatest measure from him. Once your friend, he was always such, and he made you feel he could not do too much for you. He believed in the brotherhood of man. His death at the time was a public calamity. He received a public congressional funeral and persons attended from all parts of the surrounding country. His funeral was the largest ever held in Ironton He left the memory of a career of which every young American can feel proud and be glad that was born on his father's farm near Winchester, May 7, 1844. The family was of English ancestry Mr. Fenton's great-grandfather, Jeremiah Fenton, emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was a prominent and active patriot during the Revolutionary period. His son, also named Jeremiah Fenton, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, and died in Adams County, in 1841, at the age of seventy-seven years. Benjamin Fenton, the father of our subject, was born near Winchester, August 31, 1810, and died August 13, 1870. His wife, Elizabeth Smith, was born in Pennsylvania, December 19, 1813, and died at Winchester, Ohio, November 4th, 1892.

Mr. Fenton was a student at Winchester when the war broke out. On the eleventh of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, gist Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment until September 19, 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Opequan Creek, Virginia, the ball lodging in his shoulder He was sent to the hospital at York, Pennsylvania, and was not discharged until May, 1865. He returned home in the fall and began a Normal course at the Lebanon school, where he remained for three terms. He taught school for several years. In 1869, he entered the Ohio University at Athens, and took a Latin-Scientific course, leaving that institution one year before he would have graduated, in order to accept the principalship of the Winchester schools, which position he held for two years., He then conducted the West Union schools for one year and the Manchester schools for five years, but he resigned in 1880, and was appointed clerk in the custom house at New Orleans. He was transferred, at his own request, from the Custom House at New Orleans to the treasury department in Washington, D. C., March 15, 1881, to the office of the supervising architect. He remained in government service until October 18, 1884, when he resigned and returned home. 'The Winchester Bank was organized at that time, and its original officers, were as follows: George Baird, president; J. W.Rothrock, vice president ; and I,. J. Fenton, cashier Mr. Fenton is still cashier of the bank.

Mr. Fenton is a trustee of the Ohio University at Athens. In 1892, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Minneapolis. In 1894, he was elected to the Fifty-fourth Congress and in 1896, was re-elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress by over 10,000 plurality. He was a member of the house committee on military affairs during the Spanish-American war.

On May 22, 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah B. Manker. They have three 'children, Alberta F., Clifton L., who was a captain in the Spanish-American war and Mary E.

He served on the staff of the Ohio Department Commander of the G. A. R. in 1893, and on the staff of the Natienal Commander of the G. A. R. in 1896.

As a soldier and patriot, Mr. Fenton has an honorable record. As a teacher, he won and held the high esteem of all the teachers of this County ; as a banker and business man, he has shown a high degree of ability and has the confidence of the community ; as a citizen he has the respect of all who know him. He is an excellent example of what the ambitious young American may attain.

was born in Jackson County, Ohio, January 25, 1854, the eldest son of Thomas and Mary Morgan, both natives of Wales His father settled at Pomeroy, Ohio, where he spent seven years as a coal miner. He then took up the mason's trade and helped to build several furnaces in Jackson County. He died August 18, 1894. Our subject spent his early years working on a farm. He attended the common schools of his neighborhood and prepared himself for the profession of teaching. After passing through the common schools, he attended the University at Worthington, Ohio, and the Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He taught in the public schools of Jackson County for a number of years. He was principal of the Oak Hill Academy of Jackson County, for fifteen years and was school examiner of Jackson County for nine years. He was a candidate for State Senator of the 7th District in 1891 and lacked but one vote of nomination. He was a candidate for Congress in 1896. He was elected, as a Republican in 1898, to the Fifty-sixth Congress from the Tenth District, composed of the Counties of Adams, Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Pike and - Jackson. He was re-elected to the Fifty-seventh Congress and received 26,224 votes to 17,369 for his opponent, James K. McClung, Democrat. He is re-nominated for his third term in Congress by his party and will be elected. He is a forcible interesting speaker. - His discourse abounds in valuable thoughts. He is plain and simple in all his tastes, and has risen to the position he holds by sheer merit. The people of his district have confidence in him and he repre them to their satisfaction.