William M. Fenton
Encyclopedia
William Matthew Fenton was a politician from the U. S. state of Michigan
.
in 1808 and graduated at the top of his class in 1826 at Hamilton College. In 1827, he sailed four years on the ocean, becoming mate of a merchant vessel. On May 4, 1836 Ontario County, New York, he married Adelaide Birdsall a daughter of Judge James Birdsall, of Norwich. and the same year moved to Pontiac, Michigan
becoming a merchant. In 1837, he purchased a large tract of land in Genesee County
in what later were named Fenton Township
and the village of Fentonville, which became the city of Fenton
. According to local legend, the name of the village, and consequently the township, was decided by Fenton's winning a card game with fellow landholder Robert LeRoy. Fenton was involved in mercantile, milling and real estate business. In 1839, he commenced the study of law and was admitted to the bar
in 1842.
from the 6th District, representing Genesee
, Oakland
, Macomb
and Livingston
counties, 1846-47. He moved to Flint
in 1847. In 1947, he was elected Flint Township
Supervisor
. He served as the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
from 1848 to 1852 under Governors Epaphroditus Ransom
(1848–50) and John S. Barry
(1850–52). At the first village elections in 1855, Fenton was elected as a Third Ward Alderman with Alvin T. Crossman. He held the position of register of the U. S. land office at Flint from 1852 until it was moved to East Saginaw
, and was mayor of Flint from 1858 to 1859.
When the American Civil War
began in 1861, Fenton tendered $5,000 to Michigan Governor
Austin Blair
to help equip the first regiments sent out. He became major
of the 7th Michigan infantry early in 1861, but was commissioned colonel
of the 8th Michigan, and led the regiment to the front. He took part in many battles and resigned in 1863 from ill health.
Fenton was the Democratic
candidate for governor in 1864, losing to Henry Crapo. He erected the large block and public hall in Flint that bear his name.
of Flint, while on duty, he received an injury which resulted in his death on November 12, 1871. He was interred at Glenwood Cemetery of Flint.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life
Fenton was born in Norwich, New YorkNorwich (city), New York
Norwich is a city in Chenango County, New York, United States. Surrounded on all sides by the Town of Norwich, the city is the county seat of Chenango County. The name is taken from Norwich, Connecticut. Its population was 7,355 at the 2000 census.Lt...
in 1808 and graduated at the top of his class in 1826 at Hamilton College. In 1827, he sailed four years on the ocean, becoming mate of a merchant vessel. On May 4, 1836 Ontario County, New York, he married Adelaide Birdsall a daughter of Judge James Birdsall, of Norwich. and the same year moved to Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
becoming a merchant. In 1837, he purchased a large tract of land in Genesee County
Genesee County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-75* I-475-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-13* M-15* M-21* M-54* M-57-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 436,141 people, 169,825 households, and 115,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 682 people per square mile . There were 183,630...
in what later were named Fenton Township
Fenton Township, Michigan
Fenton Charter Township is a charter township of Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,968 at the 2000 census.-Communities:* The City of Fenton is in the southeast corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous...
and the village of Fentonville, which became the city of Fenton
Fenton, Michigan
Fenton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan that lies mostly in Genesee County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,756. The city was incorporated from Fenton Township in Genesee County, and the city and township are administratively autonomous.-History:In the 1970s, the city...
. According to local legend, the name of the village, and consequently the township, was decided by Fenton's winning a card game with fellow landholder Robert LeRoy. Fenton was involved in mercantile, milling and real estate business. In 1839, he commenced the study of law and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1842.
Politics
Fenton was elected to the Michigan SenateMichigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
from the 6th District, representing Genesee
Genesee County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-75* I-475-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-13* M-15* M-21* M-54* M-57-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 436,141 people, 169,825 households, and 115,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 682 people per square mile . There were 183,630...
, Oakland
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
, Macomb
Macomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
and Livingston
Livingston County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 156,951 people, 55,384 households, and 43,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 276 people per square mile . There were 58,919 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
counties, 1846-47. He moved to Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
in 1847. In 1947, he was elected Flint Township
Flint Township, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 33,691 people, 13,972 households, and 9,025 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,425.5 per square mile . There were 14,864 housing units at an average density of 628.9 per square mile...
Supervisor
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
. He served as the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
from 1848 to 1852 under Governors Epaphroditus Ransom
Epaphroditus Ransom
Epaphroditus Ransom was the seventh Governor of Michigan and Michigan Supreme Court justice from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Early life in Massachusetts and Vermont:...
(1848–50) and John S. Barry
John S. Barry
For the American businessman John S. Barry, see John Barry .John Stewart Barry was the fourth and eighth Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. He was Michigan's only three-term governor in the 19th century...
(1850–52). At the first village elections in 1855, Fenton was elected as a Third Ward Alderman with Alvin T. Crossman. He held the position of register of the U. S. land office at Flint from 1852 until it was moved to East Saginaw
East Saginaw, Michigan
East Saginaw is a defunct city in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan.East Saginaw was founded in 1850, and was incorporated as a village in 1855 and as a city in 1857...
, and was mayor of Flint from 1858 to 1859.
When the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
began in 1861, Fenton tendered $5,000 to Michigan Governor
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
Austin Blair
Austin Blair
Austin Blair , also known as the Civil War Governor, was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan...
to help equip the first regiments sent out. He became major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
of the 7th Michigan infantry early in 1861, but was commissioned colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 8th Michigan, and led the regiment to the front. He took part in many battles and resigned in 1863 from ill health.
Fenton was the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for governor in 1864, losing to Henry Crapo. He erected the large block and public hall in Flint that bear his name.
Death
As chief of the fire departmentFire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
of Flint, while on duty, he received an injury which resulted in his death on November 12, 1871. He was interred at Glenwood Cemetery of Flint.