Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-05-19

in failing health for two years, but always
retained his sense of humor and found
pleasure in life. Three times he had been
commander of Sedgwick post, G. A. r., and
he had been president of the llth Con
necticut Regmental association and an aide
on the staff of the commander in chief of
the G.. a, Il. He was a dcvout member
of st. Michaels Roman Catholic church
and always was interested in the welfare
of his home town.
Patrick Joseph Fenton was born Aug
s, 1871, in the village of Carcw, parish of
Dunquin, County Kerry, Ireland, a son of
Joseph and Elaine Fitzgerald Fenton
He came to this country when seven
years old and always had vivid memory
of that voyage. which lasted six weeks and
two days and during which the vessel was
on fire at one time
In 1919 Mr.. Fentons father moved his
family from Hoiyolle, Mass, where he had
been engaged on the construction of the
first dam built in that city to Brattle-
boro, where the head of the family was a
member of the construction gang of the
Vermont Valley railroad. As the construc-
ton work proceeded the Fcnton family
built where the Bradley house now stands
Upon the completion of the road the FAM
lily came to Bratteboro in 1852 and Mr..
Fenton had lived here continuously since
When a boy Mr.. Fcnton entered the en-
poy of George b. Folsom a wealthy New
York resident who had a summer home in
Brattleboro During his service with this
family Mr.. Fenton met many men of prom
inence, including Generals Scott and Dix
and such famous ncwspapermen of the
early days as the elder Bennett Greeley
and Raymond, and finally the Prince of
Wales who came to this country in 1860.
Mr.. Fenton was still in the employ of Mr..
Folsom when Fort Sumpter was fired upon.
With Patrick O'Grady Mr.. Fcnton went
to Connecticut and enlisted for three years
in the llth Connecticut regiment Com
pany G, of which he became member, lost
l27 men during the year and the regiment
had a total loss from all causes of ll26
The regiment saw its first hard service at
the battle of Cold Harbor. The regiment
remained practically all summer before
Petersburg, In the battle of Aug. ; before
that city the regiment was so decimatcd
that only So men and one captain an
swered the roll call.
Mr. Fenton was with the advance of the
Union troops that first entered the city of
Richmond and was one of those assigned
to the task of eXtinguishing the flames that
were destroying many buildings. Mr.. Fen
ton was mustered out of the service Jan.
6, 1866. He was always proud of the fact
that of the 25 Irish boys who went from
this section to the front there was not "A
coward or deserter among them.
After working on a farm, in a machine
oil md ln g
the Hoosac tunnel, Mr.. Fenton entered
in 1889 the employ of the Estcy Organ Co.
and remained steadily with that concern
until failing health in the last year or two
had prevented him from working regularly
Mr.. Fenton married in New York, May
3, 1873, Miss Sarah Hart, the ceremony be-
ing performed in St. Stephens church by
Rev. Father Curran. Mrs. Fenton died
March ], 1893 leaving three children, who
survive their father They are John, en-
ployed by the Durham Brothers Co., Will
liam, who conducts plumbing shop on
Elliot street, and Miss Helen, who has kept
house for her father, He leaves also one
brother, j. j. Fenton, merchant of Bel
lows Falls, and three sisters, Mrs. Daniel
Sullivan of Bellows Falls, and Mrs. Luke
fcrrter and Mrs Patrick Fenton, both of
Battleboro.
The funeral was held Tuesday morn
ing in the Roman Catholic church. Rev
Father j. p. Rand officiating 1t was
largely attended. Frederic G, Adams
sang two selections, Nearer, My God to
Thee, and Lead, Kindly Light, The cas-
ket was drapcd with the American flag
and delegation from the Grand Army
post and the Woman's Relief corps at
tended in body There was profu-
sion Of beautiful flowers. The bearers
We're f. j. Fenton, James p. Ferriter and
John A. Fenton of Brattleboro John
Sullivan and Joseph J. Fenton Of Bellows
Falls and Thomas Quinn of Springfield.
Mass Eight members of Company 7, V.
n. G., with Lieutenant Spaulding acted
as escort. A voley was fired at the
grave and taps was sounded by Bugler
Harold Miner The burial took place in
the Roman Catholic cemetery.
Among those from out-ol-town who at
tended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. j.
j. Fenton, Miss Elaine Fenton, Joseph
Fenton Mr., and Mrs. d. w. Sullivan
Mrs. John Sullivan, DIR. and Mrs Ray
mond Elmer, Miss Nellie Flavin and Mrs
j, G. Ridden, all of Bellows Falls, Thorn
rs Quinn, NJ. H. Lyons and Patrick Fen
ton of Springfield Mass