Reuben Fenton

In the mid-19th century, he served as a U.S. Representative, a U.S. Senator, and as Governor of New York.

Reuben Eaton Fenton
22nd Governor of New York
In office January 1, 1865 – December 31, 1868
Lieutenant	Thomas G. Alvord Stewart Woodford
Preceded by	Horatio Seymour
Succeeded by	John T. Hoffman
United States Senator from New York
In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by	Edwin D. Morgan
Succeeded by	Francis Kernan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office March 4, 1857 – December 20, 1864
Preceded by	Francis S. Edwards
Succeeded by	Henry Van Aernam
Constituency	33rd district (1857–63) 31st district (1863–64)
In office March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855
Preceded by	Augustus P. Hascall
Succeeded by	Francis S. Edwards
Constituency	33rd district
Personal details
Born	(1819-07-04)July 4, 1819 Carroll, New York, U.S.
Died	August 25, 1885(1885-08-25) (aged 66) Jamestown, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (before 1857) Republican (1857–72, 1873–85) Liberal Republican (1872–73)
Spouses	Jane Frew ​ ​ (m. 1840; died 1842)​ Elizabeth Scudder ​ ​ (m. 1844)​
Children	4
Education	Cary's Academy Fredonia Academy
Occupation	Attorney Businessman

 

Fenton was born near Frewsburg, in Chautauqua County, New York, on July 4, 1819. He was the son of a farmer, and schoolteacher, George Washington Fenton (1783–1860) and Elsey (née Owen) Fenton (1790–1875). He had four siblings: Roswell Owen Fenton, George Washington Fenton Jr., William H.H. Fenton, and John Freeman Fenton.

His paternal grandparents were Roswell Fenton and Deborah (née Freeman) Fenton and his maternal grandfather was John Owen of Carroll, New York. His paternal aunt, Hannah Fenton was the wife of Lambert Van Buren of Kinderhook, New York.

He was educated in the district school, Cary's Academy near Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Fredonia Academy.

In 1840, he was named commander of the New York Militia's 162nd Infantry Regiment with the rank of colonel. He became a lumber merchant, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. Fenton entered politics as a Democrat. He was Town Supervisor of Carroll from 1843 to 1850.

U.S. House of Representatives

He was elected as a Democrat to the 33rd United States Congress, and served from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1855. In his first term in Congress, Fenton strongly opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 and unsuccessfully tried to persuade President Franklin Pierce and U.S. Secretary of State William L. Marcy to oppose the bill. He was defeated for re-election that year. He left the Democratic Party to help organize the Republican Party, and was later elected, as a Republican, to the 35th, 36th, 37th and 38th United States Congresses, and served from 1857 to 1865. During the 36th Congress, he served on the Committee on Invalid Pensions and in the 37th Congress, he served on the Committee on Claims. He served a total of five terms as congressman.

Governor of New York

He was the Governor of New York from 1865 to 1868, elected in 1864 and 1866. "During his tenure, Cornell University was founded; a free public school system was initiated; and relief measures were sanctioned that benefited veterans." After serving two terms as governor, Fenton lost the November 1868 election to John T. Hoffman, a Tammany-backed Democrat. In 1868, he was among the candidates to be Vice President but the nomination went eventually to Schuyler Colfax, whom Fenton had previously been allied with in discussing "growing public agitation about" General George B. McClellan's inactivity with President Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. Civil War.

U.S. Senator

 

In January 1869, he was elected a U.S. Senator from New York, succeeding Edwin D. Morgan and serving from 1869 to 1875 when Francis Kernan replaced him. While in the Senate, he served as Chair of the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses during the 42nd Congress while also serving on the Committee on Manufactures and the Committee on Territories. In 1872, he was among the Republicans opposed to President Ulysses S. Grant who joined the short-lived Liberal Republican Party.

Later life

In 1878, Fenton represented the United States at the International Monetary Conference in Paris. He was known as "The Soldiers' Friend" for his efforts to help returning Civil War veterans. He worked to remove tuition charges for public education, helped to establish six schools for training teachers, and signed the charter for Cornell University.

 

In 1840, Fenton was married to Jane W. Frew (1821–1842), the daughter of John Frew. They had one daughter, Jane Frew Fenton. After his first wife's death in 1842 Jane went to live with her maternal grandparents. Reuben got remarried on June 12, 1844, to Elizabeth Scudder (1824–1901). Together, they were the parents of:

• Josephine Fenton (1845–1928), who married Frank Edward Gifford (1845–1934).
• Jeannette Fenton (1849–1924), who married Albert Gilbert (1851–1912).
• Reuben Earle Fenton (1865–1895), who married Lillian Mai Hayden, daughter of Charles H. Hayden in 1890.

Fenton died on August 25, 1885, in Jamestown, and was buried in Lake View Cemetery.

The town of Fenton in Broome County, New York, is named for Reuben Fenton.

Fenton's family home was an Italian Villa style house built in 1863. He and his family lived there until the passing of Fenton's wife. After her passing the house was abandoned before it became city property in 1919. It has been home to the Fenton History Center since 1964 and is now used as a museum dedicated to the local history of Chautauqua county. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

After his death, a building at The State University of New York at Fredonia, Fenton Hall, was named in his honor because he had attended the previous incarnation of the school, Fredonia Academy.

Fenton Avenue in The Bronx, New York, is named for him.

• List of American politicians who switched parties in office