For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 196
BENJAMIN FENSTERMAKER. Benjamin Fenstermaker, who is now living retired in a fine residence at West Liberty, was for many years numbered among the substantial and enterprising agriculturists of Cedar county, where he still owns a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. His birth occurred in Perry county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of August, 1845, his parents being Ephraim and Sarah (Shoemaker) Fenstermaker, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. They came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1856, locating first at Atalissa, while shortly afterward they took up their abode at West Liberty but in 1862 removed to a farm in Cedar county. Ephraim Fenstermaker built the ninth house that was erected in West Liberty. He also purchased land in Cedar county and was long numbered among the substantial and respected residents of this part of the state. He passed away in 1901, when eighty-two years of age, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1882. Their children were nine in number, namely: Mary, who is deceased; Benjamin, of this review; Sarah, who has also passed away; Elizabeth, the wife of John Webster, of Muscatine county; Emeline, the wife of E. D. Smith; Amelia, who is deceased; Louise, who first married Stephen Schooley, by whom she had one son, and for her second husband married a Mr. Forbes, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnie, who is the wife of Howell Hise and now resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Addie, also living in Colorado Springs.Benjamin Fenstermaker attended the common schools in pursuit of an education and remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age. At that time he purchased and located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Cedar county, devoting his attention to its further cultivation and improvement for a period of thirty-two acres. The property is still in his possession and he also holds the patent thereto, which was signed by Millard Fillmore. On putting aside the active work of the fields he purchased a fine residence at West Liberty, where he has since lived in honorable retirement.
In May, 1864, Mr. Fenstermaker enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company D, Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that command for one hundred days and participating in several skirmishes. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Post No. 255 at West Liberty.
In 1870 Mr. Fenstermaker was united in marrage to Miss Sarah Wells, who was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on the 3d of May, 1847, and was brought to this county as a child by her parents, George and Eliza Wells, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Fenstermaker, who was one of a family of five children, is now the mother of five sons, as follows: Harry, who is still at home; Ephraim, who resides on his father's farm in Cedar county; Charles who is a resident of Bucyrus, Ohio; Sidney, living in Indianapolis; and Raymond, who also lives on his father's farm.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Fenstermaker has supported the men and measures of the republican party but has never desired political preferment for himself. The cause of education, however, has ever found in him a stanch champion and he has served as a school director. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to both the lodge and chapter at West Liberty. The greater part of his life has been passed in this portion of the state and the favorable regard entertained for him by his fellow townsmen is proof that his career has been an honorable one.
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