Colonel William Matthew FENTON b. Dec. 19, 1808 in Norwich, Chenango county, New York, d. May 13, 1871 Genesee TWP. MI Son of Joseph and Sarah FENTON
William was graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York state, in 1826, and then spent four years upon the sea. He rose from the rank of common sailor to the office of first mate of a merchantman, and was then offered the captaincy, but declined. He was married in April, 1835, to Adelaide S. BIRDSALL b. 4-30-1812 d. 11-9-1868 daughter of Judge James Birdsall, of Norwich, New York, and in July of that year settled in Pontiac, Michigan, engaging in the mercantile business with Robert LeRoy. In April, I837, he settled in Dibbleville, Genesee county, a village that later changed its name in his honor. He engaged in business as a merchant and real estate broker. He was admitted to the bar in I842. In i844 he was defeated as a Democratic candidate for the state legislature, but in 1846 he was elected to the senate of that body from the Genesee district. He took an active part in the state school for the deaf, dumb and blind. In 1848 he was elected lieutenant-governor and re-elected in I850. Upon removing to Flint he was appointed by President Pierce as registrar of the land office there, and continued his official duties in that capacity until the removal of the office to Saginaw. In 1856 he visited Europe with his family. In 1858 he was elected mayor of Flint and gave efficient service. office that he met with his untimely death On the night of May 11 1871 while running to answer the alarm of fire he fell over a hitching post at the corner of First and Saginaw streets got up and walked to his office near by where he was found an hour afterwards seriously injured and almost unconscious He never rallied but died at eleven o clock the next night
Had at least 4 children:
1)Adelaid (Ada) FENTON b. 6-5-1838 d. 2-25-1884 m. Col George McCREERY of Flint both buried this cemetery.
2)Henry FENTON b. abt 1840
3)Joseph Brush FENTON b. abt 1843
4)Miss FENTON
See The Fenton Family of America and Great Britain
By Thomas Astley Atkins
William was graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York state, in 1826, and then spent four years upon the sea. He rose from the rank of common sailor to the office of first mate of a merchantman, and was then offered the captaincy, but declined. He was married in April, 1835, to Adelaide S. BIRDSALL b. 4-30-1812 d. 11-9-1868 daughter of Judge James Birdsall, of Norwich, New York, and in July of that year settled in Pontiac, Michigan, engaging in the mercantile business with Robert LeRoy. In April, I837, he settled in Dibbleville, Genesee county, a village that later changed its name in his honor. He engaged in business as a merchant and real estate broker. He was admitted to the bar in I842. In i844 he was defeated as a Democratic candidate for the state legislature, but in 1846 he was elected to the senate of that body from the Genesee district. He took an active part in the state school for the deaf, dumb and blind. In 1848 he was elected lieutenant-governor and re-elected in I850. Upon removing to Flint he was appointed by President Pierce as registrar of the land office there, and continued his official duties in that capacity until the removal of the office to Saginaw. In 1856 he visited Europe with his family. In 1858 he was elected mayor of Flint and gave efficient service. office that he met with his untimely death On the night of May 11 1871 while running to answer the alarm of fire he fell over a hitching post at the corner of First and Saginaw streets got up and walked to his office near by where he was found an hour afterwards seriously injured and almost unconscious He never rallied but died at eleven o clock the next night
Had at least 4 children:
1)Adelaid (Ada) FENTON b. 6-5-1838 d. 2-25-1884 m. Col George McCREERY of Flint both buried this cemetery.
2)Henry FENTON b. abt 1840
3)Joseph Brush FENTON b. abt 1843
4)Miss FENTON
See The Fenton Family of America and Great Britain
By Thomas Astley Atkins
Colonel William Matthew FENTON b. Dec. 19, 1808 in Norwich, Chenango county, New York, d. May 13, 1871 Genesee TWP. MI Son of Joseph and Sarah FENTON
William was graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York state, in 1826, and then spent four years upon the sea. He rose from the rank of common sailor to the office of first mate of a merchantman, and was then offered the captaincy, but declined. He was married in April, 1835, to Adelaide S. BIRDSALL b. 4-30-1812 d. 11-9-1868 daughter of Judge James Birdsall, of Norwich, New York, and in July of that year settled in Pontiac, Michigan, engaging in the mercantile business with Robert LeRoy. In April, I837, he settled in Dibbleville, Genesee county, a village that later changed its name in his honor. He engaged in business as a merchant and real estate broker. He was admitted to the bar in I842. In i844 he was defeated as a Democratic candidate for the state legislature, but in 1846 he was elected to the senate of that body from the Genesee district. He took an active part in the state school for the deaf, dumb and blind. In 1848 he was elected lieutenant-governor and re-elected in I850. Upon removing to Flint he was appointed by President Pierce as registrar of the land office there, and continued his official duties in that capacity until the removal of the office to Saginaw. In 1856 he visited Europe with his family. In 1858 he was elected mayor of Flint and gave efficient service. office that he met with his untimely death On the night of May 11 1871 while running to answer the alarm of fire he fell over a hitching post at the corner of First and Saginaw streets got up and walked to his office near by where he was found an hour afterwards seriously injured and almost unconscious He never rallied but died at eleven o clock the next night
Had at least 4 children:
1)Adelaid (Ada) FENTON b. 6-5-1838 d. 2-25-1884 m. Col George McCREERY of Flint both buried this cemetery.
2)Henry FENTON b. abt 1840
3)Joseph Brush FENTON b. abt 1843
4)Miss FENTON
See The Fenton Family of America and Great Britain
By Thomas Astley Atkins
William was graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York state, in 1826, and then spent four years upon the sea. He rose from the rank of common sailor to the office of first mate of a merchantman, and was then offered the captaincy, but declined. He was married in April, 1835, to Adelaide S. BIRDSALL b. 4-30-1812 d. 11-9-1868 daughter of Judge James Birdsall, of Norwich, New York, and in July of that year settled in Pontiac, Michigan, engaging in the mercantile business with Robert LeRoy. In April, I837, he settled in Dibbleville, Genesee county, a village that later changed its name in his honor. He engaged in business as a merchant and real estate broker. He was admitted to the bar in I842. In i844 he was defeated as a Democratic candidate for the state legislature, but in 1846 he was elected to the senate of that body from the Genesee district. He took an active part in the state school for the deaf, dumb and blind. In 1848 he was elected lieutenant-governor and re-elected in I850. Upon removing to Flint he was appointed by President Pierce as registrar of the land office there, and continued his official duties in that capacity until the removal of the office to Saginaw. In 1856 he visited Europe with his family. In 1858 he was elected mayor of Flint and gave efficient service. office that he met with his untimely death On the night of May 11 1871 while running to answer the alarm of fire he fell over a hitching post at the corner of First and Saginaw streets got up and walked to his office near by where he was found an hour afterwards seriously injured and almost unconscious He never rallied but died at eleven o clock the next night
Had at least 4 children:
1)Adelaid (Ada) FENTON b. 6-5-1838 d. 2-25-1884 m. Col George McCREERY of Flint both buried this cemetery.
2)Henry FENTON b. abt 1840
3)Joseph Brush FENTON b. abt 1843
4)Miss FENTON
See The Fenton Family of America and Great Britain
By Thomas Astley Atkins
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