Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-02-05
Obituary..
From the Detroit Free Press.


Ia the death or Mrs. Eliza Jane FeR-
ton, born Wendell, which took place on
the 22d ult., Mackinac Island has lost
one OF its most esteemed and highly ac-
e0mpished ladies. The deceased il de-
scended from good, old Albany Dutch
and Scotch ancestry, Her father, Abra-
ham Wendell, was revenue collector dur
Ing the administration of Gen. Jackson.
Her uncle, Mr.. Tunis Wendell. was we'll
known to the citizens of Detroit as one
Of its oldest merchants.
The old Wendell mansion, opposite the
Michigan Exchange, still standing. was
built by him. and 10 one OF the oldest
brick buildings in Detroit. George Mel
drum. of the Moldrum farm in Ham
tramsk, her grandfather, on her mothers
side, was man who played no incOnsid-
cradle part in the early history OF our
state He was an ardent follower Of Gen.
Cas- aud associated with such men as
Gov 5tsphen T. Mason, Gov. Woodbridge,
father Of the late Judge Witherell, and
Others who have added lust0r to the An
nails of Michigan. He was the head OF
the firm of McDrum & Park, and died
leaving large Landed estates in Canada,
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and other
states, most of which were lost to his
heirs from neglect and tax titles. The
subject of this notice was born at Mack
| mac Island, and was playmate of Sea-
ator Ferry's. She remembered as a child
| to have been taken Rp and caresSsd In
her fathers home by Prinse do J0inville.
She was educated at NOtre Dame, In Gin
cinnati. was general fav0rite with her
sehoOlmatss, and had a poem, "Chere
| EliZe," dedicated to her by her classmate,
the taleEtsd authorsss, Mrs. Mary G..
Monroe, in souvenirs Of Notre Dame
She was gifted with great personal beau
| ty and charm of manner. AS ysung
lady, sho was NEST delightful hostess,
and when the Prince Napoleon and suite
visited the island some years ago, she
received and entertained them in their
mother tongue, with which she was flu
emily cenv0rsant. The Prince was so
pleased that on his return TO Paris he
sent the family. through the Preach
Minister, an autograph letter with q
gold medal Of great value. 1t was made
by the Imperial Architect, Albert Barre.
On one side was profile OF the Prince,
with French inscription. On the re-
verse is a record of all his official acts
and titles. The Papal NunciO, Monsig-
|
here, and OH his arrival at Rome he sent
her for an acknowledgment of her hos
pltality and piety, as a daughter of the
church. together with an autograph let
ter, a beautiful pearl cross set in Roma n
cold. also an exquisite silver medal, a
missal and q picture of the Virgin bless
ed by Pope Plus TX. In addition she re-
seived an elegant missal from the late
Archbishop Hughes, with whom she was
a special favorits.
She was married in 1858 to the Hon.
C.B. FentOn. and has always lived in
her own lovely home on the island, to
which she was greatly attached, and
where she dispensed genuine hospitality
to numerous distinguished men and
women. Numbers of these were judges,
Governors, army and navy officers, states
mon and legislative bodies. Doubtless
many will remember her at Lansing,
when Gov. Baldwin administered the
affairs of the State. where she was the
center of group of admiring friends
in the charming court Of Mrs. Baldwin.
She was a sister of the late Hon, George
T. and Jacob A. Il. Wendell, both OF
whom have held many offices OF public
trust, State and National, and was a wO.
man of deep religious nature, pure and
noble character, a devoted wife and
mother, and to know her was too love
her. She is universally lamented by the
whole community. A husband, two
daughters, and ono son. G. Wendell Fen
ton, row cadet at West Point are lcf'
to mourn her untimely loss.
The funeral Obsequies were held on th'
2Sth, Ste. Anae's Church. The sdihce
was heavily draped in mourning ant
festooned with evsrgreens. The pew
and memorial window Of the deceased
were also appropriately draPeu oy towns
hands. A magnificent floral crown wal
among the offerings that decorated TIT
casket. eff-
Solemn requiem high mass was cels-
bratsd by the Rev. Father Dryer, ant
tho choir, OF which she had been Nom
Der for many years, sang Win impress
sivs effect her favorite hymns.
Her remains were tenderly laid to res