William Fenimore (1917)
CREGER, ELLIS, ESSEX, FENIMORE, MONROE, OGBURN, SCHOENENBERGER, WAECHTER
Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 3/18/2007 at 10:21:43
The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, September 19, 1917
Page 8, Column 3William Fenimore
On last Thursday the immediate relatives of William Fenimore received word that this well known gentleman and influential pioneer of Madison county had succumbed to a sudden and severe illness. The news soon spread to all parts of the county and the funeral held at Peru on Saturday was attended generally especially by his old acquaintances from Winterset and the south part of the county.
Mr. Fenimore was born in Madison county, Indiana in 1834. At that time Indiana was in its formative state and his father was one of the first settlers there. Indiana was a much harder state to settle than Iowa. Immense forests covered most of the territory and it took men of the most sturdy character to subdue the wilderness. This arduous task fell to the lot of Fenimore during his young manhood. A log cabin which he built himself from timber growing near by, still remains in a good state of preservation to testify of the skill and industry of the builder.
When twenty years old he came to Madison county, Iowa and settled near old Peru in the vicinity of which he made his home till a few years ago when he removed to Missouri. Farming was his principal occupation, but he also dealt largely in stock raising and shipping. However he in later years engaged in general merchandise and banking.
He was a man of restless energy and in his prime pushed many enterprises to a successful issue. He was true to his friends and his reputation for business ability and financial integrity was a tower of strength in the community where he lived.
He was a member of the Christian church, but materially aided other denominations by contributing of his home and means. For many years there was no church in Barney, the first station on the railroad west of Peru. He personally canvassed the country to raise money to build a church there and without his help the project would probably have failed.
He was a Democrat from way back and a partisan always to be considered in the strenuous political battles of early times, and yet personal friendship and the public good were never lost sight of and there are Republicans still living who gratefully remember the assistance he openly and courageously rendered them when his judgment allowed that course warranted. Mr. Fenimore was one who could be lead but not driven.
He was married three times, first to Miss Ogburn shortly after coming to the county. At her death he married Miss Ellis, who died some twenty years ago and then he married Miss Monroe who has been the companion of his old age and who still survives him; together with two children, one of whom was seriously ill at the time of his death, living at Carthage, Missouri, where he had lived for several years since leaving this county, where he died Thursday, September 13, 1917, and from which place his remains were sent to Peru for burial.
Ten children of former marriage are as follows: Newton Fenimore, of Fargo, Oklahoma; Amon of Carthage, Missouri; Anderson of Peru, Iowa; Willard of Winterset, Joseph of Merna, Nebraska; Elmer, of Neosho, Missouri; Rhoda Schoenenberger, of Peru, Iowa; Lilly Weachter, of Peru, Iowa; Daisy Creger, Peru, Iowa; Effie Essex, of Des Moines, Iowa.
The funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Peru Saturday, September 15, conducted by Rev. L. E. Follansbee.
The Odd Fellows have for a long time had a thriving lodge at Peru. Mr. Fenimore had been a member of this order from the beginning and his fraternal brothers were out in full force showing their respect for their comrade of many years and to do honor to the memory of this pioneer of two states. They conducted the imposing ritual service at the grave.
Quite a number of Winterset people attended the funeral, some of whom had for years been his neighbors and warm personal friends. Among others we mention M. L. SIlliman, George Guiberson, J. E. Hamilton, W. W. Wright, A. W. Crawford, J. W. Frankelberger, R. H. Cooper, Josh Aikin, M. C. Shaw and E. R. Zeller.
________________________The East Peru Mail
East Peru, Iowa
Friday, September 21, 1917
Page 1, Columns 4 & 5Death of William Fenimore.
We spoke briefly last week of the death of this pioneer of Madison County, and can add but little more than his biography will give.
Mr. Fenimore and family lived close neighbors to us for a number of years, and we always found him ready and willing to do a kind act for any one. He was a splendid neighbor and a staunch friend to us, and did what he could to encourage us in a business way; and we shall miss his friendly calls, as he never failed to come to visit at our home when in Peru.
His son Willard’s illness, and that of his step son at home was a source of great concern to him: Wm. Fenimore will be greatly missed by all who knew him. The large concourse of people who assembled to pay their last tribute to the departed showed in what esteem he was held.
He died at his home in Carthage, Missouri, Thursday the 13th, and the body was brought back to Peru arriving here on Saturday morning and the funeral was held that afternoon from the M. E. church, conducted by Mr. Fenimore’s former pastor, Rev. L. E. Follansbee the Christian minister, once a minister of the Christian church in Peru. Rev. Follansbee and Mr. Fenimore were warm personal friends for many years. The body was laid to rest in the Peru cemetery. The body was laid to rest in the Peru cemetery. The services at the grave were conducted by Maple Leaf Lodge No. 577 of the I. O. O. F. of Peru, of which order he was a long time member. His obituary as read at the funeral is as follows:
William Fenimore was born Jan. 11, 1834, in Wayne County, Indiana, and died Sept. 13th, 1917, at his residence in Carthage, Mo., after an illness of twenty-four hours.
When a child of three years his parents moved to Alexandra, Madison County, Indiana, where William grew to manhood, in that region then known as the wilds of the Hoosier State. In this frontier home the boy William cut the trees and built the log cabin that stands to this day: At the age of twenty he came on to Madison County, Ia., and when he arrived had nothing but the clothing he wore, and one dollar in his pocket. But the sturdy earnest zeal which characterized his life he began to lay the foundation of his successful business career. The only school life he had was confined to a district school for three winters where he ciphered to the Rule of Three as he often remarked.
An elderly lady, Mrs. Persinger, related of him, that when he was a very small boy he used to cut down trees, carry the cord wood and throw over the fence then to the house for the winter use in the old fashioned fire place. This was when Indiana was noted for bears, wild turkeys, and people who were ready to carve their way through all opposition. William came from this stock.
In December 1854 he was married to Martha Ogburn in Madison County, Iowa. To them were born ten children. Two children of this family preceded him to the land of the unknown, the others Newton, Tongo, Oklahoma; Annon, Carthage, Mo.; Anderson, Peru, Iowa; Willard, Winterset, Iowa; Joseph, Menon, Nebraska, Elmer, Neosho, Missouri; Rhonda Schoenenberger, and Lillie Waechter both of Peru, Iowa. His companion of his youthful manhood passed to the great beyond Sept. 23, 1875.
Sept. 13, 1877, he married Louisa Ellis. Four children were born to this union, two of which passed to the better world. Daisy Creger of Peru, Effie Essex still lives. His second wife died in Sept. 1898 at old Peru and October 19th, 1899 he married Mrs. Mary Monroe. To them were born William Eugene and Ellen Marie Fenimore, who live in the home at Carthage, Mo., where the mother waits by the beside of her son Vernon Monroe, who lies very sick at this time.
The deceased live in Madison County 56 years. He moved to Diamond, Missouri, Nov. 5th, 1909 and to Carthage, Mo., in Oct. 1914. He united with the Christian church at old Peru in 1890 and his membership has ever remained with this church.
He was a strong, active man possessing great energy of purpose. Being one of Madison county’s early pioneers, he was known to one and all in those early days. For many years he has been a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge under whose auspices he was buried in the cemetery. Personally I can and nothing more than say William Fenimore was my personal friend and always manifested an interest in my welfare. With those who mourn his departure I sympathize, and trust that sometime in the land of Unfading Day we may meet, where death’s summons will never come, and friendships formed will be perpetuated forever.
________________________
Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, September 19, 1917Death of WILLIAM FENIMORE
The death of William Fenimore, an old resident of this county, occurred suddenly on Thursday, Sept. 13th, at his home in Carthage, Mo. Mr. Fenimore, until five years ago, had spent his life in Madison county, living near Peru. He was 83 years old.
Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Peru on Saturday afternoon at two o'clock. He was one of the strong men of that community and one of the county's early pioneers.
He leaves several children, four of whom reside in this county: Willard Fenimore of Winterset, A. E. Fenimore of Peru, Mrs. Rhoda Schoenenberger of Walnut township and Mrs. Ora Creger of Scott township.
________________________The Neosho Times
Neosho, Missouri
Thursday, September 20, 1917
Page 8, Column 1Elmer Fenimore received a telephone message last Thursday that his father, near Diamond, was very low and he left at once but his father had passed away before he got there. He returned and assisted by J. D. Edmisten, the entire family of Mr. Fenimore left early Friday morning to attend the funeral. Mr. Fenimore accompanied the remains back to Iowa, where he will be laid to rest in the old home cemetery. There is sadness in the Fenimore home—for Grandpa Fenimore is gone, not to come back, but all can meet him in the Great Beyond where there is no sickness, pain and death, and where parting is no more. The bereaved have the sympathy of all in the loss of one so near and so dear.
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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