Elbridge Dwight Fenn (1842-1910)

FENN, DODDS, POTTER, KINSELL, PHELPS, KIES, WRIGHT, HILMAN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/6/2015 at 16:57:23

From unknown newspaper February 13, 1910

OBITUARY

DEATH OF E. D. FENN

Elbridge Dwight Fenn, long one of the best-known citizens of Story county, died on Sunday last, February 13, 1910, at Manchester, Michigan, and was buried here this forenoon beside his first wife. He was accompanied on his last journey here by his eldest daughter, Mrs. Lola Fenn Dodds of Denver, Colorado, who had been called east by his illness and was with his for last week of his life. Her husband, Mr. J. W. Dodds met her here, and they with relatives and friends from here made up the funeral party about the grave, where the last rites were pronounced by Rev. Hunter and where the flag which he often apostrophized was wrapped about him, in commemoration of his military service.

The deceased was born in New York state about 1841, and he came in 1858 to Nevada, following his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Potter. He saw some military service in the 2d Iowa infantry, and he was always prominent in gatherings of old soldiers. About 1866 he was married to Mrs. Josephine Kinsell Phelps, and they resided in Nevada until her death in 1888. In the meantime he was merchant here and twice postmaster in the Andrew Johnson administration and the first Cleveland administration. Very shortly after his retirement from office the second time, in 1889, he left Nevada and never returned until today. For some years he had his headquarters in Chicago; but in 1895 he married Mrs. Frances Kies of Manchester, Michigan, and the remainder of his life was spent at that place, his friends here hearing from him sometimes but not often. He is survived by his second wife and his three daughters, Lois, Mrs, J. W. Dodds of Denver; Rae, Mrs. F. P, Wright of Los Angeles; and Georgia, Mrs. J. C. Hilman of Helena, Montana.

This notice would not be at all complete if no mention were made of the politics of the deceased. He was a Democrat and an enthusiastic one. For years he dominated the affairs of the Democratic party in this county, enjoyed such honors as the party here was in position to give and represented it in state conventions. In 1880 he was a delegate to the national convention as Cincinnati which nominated General Hancock for president. The period was one when party feeling was strong, and he had many controversies with his opponents, but we think they all forgave him, and he hope that he forgave them. He was in the time one of the men by whom Story county was known abroad. One may wish that he might have been back here sometime after the fights were over. But here it was that he really had his career, and it is fitting indeed that after an absence of more than twenty years, he is brought back here for his final rest.