John Fenderson (1810 - 1877)

Born 17 Apr 1810 in Frankfort, Hancock County, Maine

Ancestors

Husband of Lucy (Clements) Fenderson — married 1833 in Frankfort, Waldo County, Maine

Descendants

Died 12 Apr 1877 at age 66 in Owego, Tioga, New York

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Biography

Incomplete Preliminary Draft

John Fenderson was born on April 17, 1810^[1] to John and Keziah "Dolly" (CROXFORD) FENDERSON ^{[2][3][4][5][6]} at Frankfort, Hancock^[7], Maine. He was the fourth child of this union to make it to maturity. Little of his youthful life is known, but on June 28, 1833 at Frankfort, Maine, he united in marriage with Lucy CLEMENTS, daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth (HILL) CLEMENTS^[8][9]. It is Lucy's brother Prentiss CLEMENTS and sister Lydia CLEMENTS who also have united with John's siblings Wilmott FENDERSON and Ivery FENDERSON.

Perhaps like his father, John became active in the lumber trade. We believe this took him first to northern Maine and into Canada. While we do not know where John and Lucy had their first child Aurelia (July 26, 1834) but we do know there is a grave marker at Pembroke, Washington County, Maine which gives us her death date of December 20, 1834 and that her parents were John and Lucy. Family records also cite the birth of second child Tisdale Dean Fenderson on November 9, 1836 as being at Frankfort, Maine. Several Citations tell us that John Fenderson moved to Owego, Tioga, New York in 1836, including Charles L. Fenderson who says that the family moved to Owego, Tioga, New York in "..1836, when Tisdale was but an infant.." Perhaps John did start work in Owego in 1836, and Tisdale was born in Frankfort, Maine, and THEN Lucy and infant Tisdale joined John before the end of 1836, or certainly by 1837. In any case, the family left Maine at about that time to follow an opportunity offered to tend the mills at "Canawana Creek" in lower New York state near Owego. I have been unable to substantiate where "Canawana Creek" is located, but Mapcarta does list this name as an alternate for Owego Creek (on the west side of the City of Owego, draining into the Susquehanna River. Other alternate names are "Ah-wa-ga", "Ah-wah-gah", and "Owego River").

The account offered by Charles L. Fenderson tells us that he prospered from the early years in New York State until when the Civil War entered the picture. A more detailed view however shows difficult years.

The Children

The First EIGHT Children

Already we have discussed their firstborn, Aurelia Fenderson (1), who lived only five months. We would know nothing of her except that C.L. Fenderson wrote to inform us that her spirit once resided on earth. While much that C.L.Fenderson has related should be taken under advisement, the appearance of a gravestone at Heresy Cemetery in Pembroke Maine with her name and that tells us she was the daughter of John and Lucy certainly reinforces C.L. Fenderson in this instance.

Tisdale Dean Fenderson, the eldest son. We knew that he had perished in the Civil War. But not many details about him. Will expand on this in his bio once it is created.

Next of the Fenderson children was Francis Marion Fenderson. Here again another child who is said to have been born at Frankfort, Waldo, Maine in 1838. So perhaps the family's transition to lower New York State was still incomplete.

John Fenderson Junior was the next child born in 1841. His records clearly state his birth was at Owego, Tioga County, New York. So the transition started in 1836 and completed by 1841.

Next is the child we know least about. It is Aurelia Fenderson (2) who was born in 1843. She is often referred to as "Aurelia II" because she was the second child of this name born to the family. This is a practice that is later repeated. We would know little of her if not for the notes from Charles L. Fenderson, who says that she married and "..went West - lost to family."

Masonello Fenderson born 1845 in Owego (shown in the 1850 census as "Morris", and listed by Charles L. Fenderson as "Maranello"). Married and had one child with that woman.

Lucy Fenderson is the first of the children born in Pennsylvania (1847, Cascade TWP, Lycoming, PA) as the Fendersons chased the lumber business into Pennsylvania only to be thwarted by the Civil War. Lucy married a Union Soldier in 1863 and had one child with him before the man perished in the war. She then met a captured Confederate Soldier and in 1866 helped heal the nation's war wounds by marrying the man and having eight children with him.

Lamartine Fenderson born in 1848 in I believe Pennsylvania. He begged his mother for permission to join the Union Army at age 14. His mother arrived at the Union camp at Belle Plains, Virginia on April 19, 1863 to see after her two ailing sons Masonello and Lamartine, only to discover that Lamartine had died the night before. She carted his body back to Lockhaven, Clinton Co, PA to bury his remains there.

By 1850, the family had moved their primary residence to Nichols, Tioga, New York. We believe they still maintained a residence at Owego, Tioga, New York as well.

The Next SIX Children

Born on April 18, 1850, TWINS Josephine Fenderson (1) and Albertine Fenderson (1) were loved by their mother, and were to be the last children born in the family. However, their younger sister Mary Neal Fenderson (1) joined the group on April 26, 1851. But tragedy struck the Fendeson household during a four day period at the end of August in 1852, as all three children became ill and died. All three were (and are) buried together under a common headstone.

After the three sisters perished, their mother was determined to 'replace' these thee daughters (similar to how she 'replaced' her first born child by giving another daughter the name of her first born). And so with much effort and prayer over the next several years, three new daughters were welcomed into their home.

First came Mary Neal Fenderson (2) born on February 18, 1853 at Owego. Then came Josephine Fenderson (2) born on April 7, 1854 in Owego. Finally after little success, Albertine Fenderson (2) was born on June 6, 1858.

END of Preliminary Draft

Born 17 APR 1810. Frankfort, Waldo County, Maine. ^[10]

Marriage
Husband John Fenderson.
Wife Lucy Clements.
Marriage June 28, 1833 Frankfort, Waldo County, Maine.^[11]

Died 12 APR 1877^[12]. Owego, Tioga, New York. ^[13]

Census Data

1840 Census at

Village of Owego, Tioga, NY

John Fenderson

2003110000000 0001100000000

Males

2 under 5 (Tisdale and Francis Marion)

3 15 and under 20

1 20 under 30

1 30 under 40 (John)

Females

1 15 under 20

1 20 under 30 (Lucy)

1850 United States Census at

Nichols, Tioga, New York

Line Number 22

Dwelling House Number 625

Family Number 633

John Fenderson M 40y NY

Lucy Fenderson F 36y

Tistel D?An Fenderson M 14y

Frances M Fenderson F 11y

John Fenderson M 9y

Oliver Fenderson M 7y (actually is Aurelia and is female)

Morris A Fenderson M 5y (actually is Masonello)

Lucy Fenderson F 3y

Lamertine Fenderson M 2y

Josaphene Fenderson F 4m

Abertine Fenderson M 4m (Albertine is a female, and twin to Josephine)

Andrew Daughty M 26y

Ose Courghtright M 18y

Silas Gerson M 16y

John Gerson M 36y

Betsey Hoper F 26y

NOTE, Twins Josephine and Albertine die along with daughter Mary Neal (not yet born on this list), before 1855. All three are buried at Tioga Cemetery.

1855 New York State Census at

E.D. 1-2, Tioga, Tioga, New York, United States

Dwelling 17, Family 17

John Fenderson, 45, M, _____, Maine, Machinist

Lucy Fenderson, 41, F, Wife, Maine

Tisdale D. Fenderson, 18, M, Child, Tioga

Francis M Fenderson, 16, M, Child, Tioga

John Fenderson, 14, M, Child, Tioga

Aurelia Fenderson, 12, F, Child, Tioga

Masanello Fenderson, 10, M, Child, Tioga

Lucy Fenderson, 8, F, Child, Tioga

Lamartine Fenderson, 7, M, Child, Tioga

Mary N Fenderson, 2, F, Child, Tioga

Josephene Fenderson, 1, F, Child, Tioga

NOTE, Family surname transcribed incorrectly and "Fendeson". Also note that daughter Josephine listed here is a different Josephine than listed in 1850.

1860 US Census at

Lock Haven Borough, Clinton, Pennsylvania, United States

Post Office - Mill Hall

page 84

Family and Dwelling numbers are un-enumerated, but each family head seems to also list an occupation and check mark.

John Fenderson, 50, M, Maine, Lumberman

Lucy Fenderson, 46, F, Maine

Harrison Fenderson, 21, M, Maine (note, this is probably Francis Marion)

John Fenderson, 19, M, New York

Aurelia Fenderson, 17, F, New York

Masswell Fenderson, 15, M, New York (note, this is probably Massanello)

Lucy Fenderson, 13, F, Pennsylvania

Samantha Fenderson, 12, M, Pennsylvania (note, this is probably Lamartine)

Mary Fanderson, 7, F, New York

Josephine Fenderson, 6, F, New York

Albertine Fenderson, 3, F, New York

NOTE, Surname is mistranscribed as "Fanderson"

1870 US Census at

Owego, Tioga Co, New York

Dwelling 616, Family 602

Page Number 66

John Fenderson, 60, M, Maine, Lumberman

Lucy Fenderson, 56, F, Maine

Josephine Fenderson, 16, F, New York

Albertine Fenderson, 13, F, New York

1875 New York Census at

Owego, Tioga, New York

Dwelling 91 , Family 86

Page 9

John Fenderson, Head, 34, M, Tioga

Kate L Fenderson, wife, 29, F, Tioga

George L Fenderson, son, 9, M, Tioga

Della A Fenderson, dau, 7, F, Tioga

Katy B Fenderson, dau, 6, F, Tioga

Mary A Fenderson, Dau, 2, F, Tioga

John Fenderson, Father, 65, M, Maine

Lucy Fenderson, Mother, 61, F, Maine

Text and Newspaper Data

"Moved to NY state when son Francis was an infant. Followed the Lumber business in southern NY state and northern PA. Was quite prosperous until the Civil War. Most sons followed in the same business in one way or another." C.L. Fenderson

Unknown source

Apr 1836, in Owego, Tioga Co, NY. "Came to Owego on this date to take charge of the lathe, grist and other mills owned by Robert C. Johnson of Canawana.

Owego Gazette of 4-19-1877

"Mr. John FENDERSON, Sr. was drowned in the Susquehanna River, at Hyatt's Ferry, about 3 1/2 miles below Owego, Thurs. noon April 12th. Mr. FENDERSON was standing on the boat behind a pair of mules, which were hitched to a wagon holding a cow. The mules became uneasy & backed against the cow, who pushed him into the water".

Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, p1184 Viewable at [1]

"He came to New York state in 1836 and located at Owego, where he run by the thousand a saw mill at the village of Canawana, and carried on an extensive lumber business for six years. Afterwards he run a mill for John Dubois at Cascade township, Pennsylvania, three years, and in 1851 built for himself a steam mill near Owego. but failed in business in 1858."

Tuesday May 2, 1899.

Owego Daily Record

Notes under the heading

"TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO OCCURRENCES IN AND ABOUT OWEGO DURING THE YEAR 1877 .

Interesting Events Compiled by a Former Owegoan Halfway down first column of this article.

"John Fenderson, Sr., was drowned at

Hyatt's ferry, three and one-half miles

below Owego, April 12."

Data yet to be assigned

^[14]

- Descendants of Wallace Finlayson by Bob Fenderson, Self-published November 8, 1998. p.49

- Genealogical and Family History of Western New York; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation. Volume III By William Richard Cutter, Lewis Historical Publishing Co, New York. 1912. pp1184-1185. NOTE that this work by Mr Cutter is wildly inaccurate with respect to this family.

Sources

1. ↑ John's Findagrave Memorial #52916542 - click to see source notes below
2. ↑ Perceval Wood Clement Vol.1 p.225
3. ↑ Eben Dunham Wiswell
4. ↑ Charles L. Fenderson Genealogy p. 2
5. ↑ Bob Fenderson's descendants list page 49
6. ↑ History of Western New York, Vol III, page 1184
7. ↑ Waldo County not added til July 1827
8. ↑ Perceval Wood Clement Vol.1 p.225
9. ↑ #BobFenderson
10. ↑ Gravemarker at Tioga Cemetery
11. ↑ Descendants of Wallace Finlayson by Bob Fenderson, Self-published November 8, 1998. p.49
12. ↑ John's Findagrave Memorial #52916542 - click to see source notes below
13. ↑ Gravemaker at Tioga Cemetery
14. ↑ Ancestors and Descendants of Robert Clements, by Perceval Wood Clements, p.225 - Click to see full source attribution below

- John's Findagrave memorial #52916542 located at remote site John's Findagrave Memorial where the stone reveals a birth date of April 17, 1810, and a death date of April 12, 1877. The death date, taken with other evidence shows that Wm Richard Cutter's work (Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, William Richard Cutter, A.M. Volume III, p. 1184) is NOT correct when it references 7 April 1877

- Ancestors and Descendants of Robert Clements of Leicestershire and Warwickshire, England : first settler of Haverhill, Massachusetts BY Perceval Wood Clements (edited by Mary Lovering Holman and Caroline Clement Brown). In Two volumes. (Press of Patterson & White Co, Philadelphia 1927)

- "Fifteen Generations of Americans 1620-1986: Including Many of the Family Lines that Lead to the Fifteenth Generation"Eben Dunham Wiswell Jr, editor (Self Published Middlebury Center, PA by E.D. Wiswell, 1986.)

- Fenderson family genealogy Hand typed by Charles L. Fenderson and sent to Lorenzo W. Housel of Humboldt, Iowa by Charles L. Fenderson of Jacquet River, N.B. Canada. Sent in an envelope printed for The Louison Lumber Company. Information dated February 27, 1935. Some very good info, in this, and some which is provably incorrect.