James F. Fenton, an old resident and highly esteemed citizen of this place, died on Thursday morning, August 19th, of inflamation of the bowels. While he had not been well for some time he had been confined to his bed but a few days and the fatal termination was sudden and unexpected.

Telegrams were sent immediately to his absent children and Miss Bertha arrived from Buena Vista, Colorado, and Miss Alma from Missouri in time to attend the last sad duty of the living to the departed dead. The oldest son, Warren C., of Boise City, Idaho, and Mrs. Herndon, a daughter who lives at Gallatin, Mo., were unable to attend.

The funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon at the family residence under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity of which organization Mr. Fenton had been an active member for thirty-nine years. The sermon was preached by Rev. D. L. McBride, assisted by Rev. A. H. Bartlett. A large number of sorrowing friends and neighbors gathered to pay respect to the memory of one who stood high in the esteem of all who knew him.

James F. Fenton was born in Boon county, Missouri, on September 16th, 1834. At the age of five years he moved with his parents to Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa, where he resided until after his marriage to Letha E. Myers on August 19th, 1857. To this union were born fifteen children, eleven of whom are left to mourn the loss of a loving father.

He moved with his family to Lancaster, Missouri, where he served in the state militia during the civil war. At this place he was engaged in the general merchandise business. He afterwards moved to Coatsville, Schuyler county, Missouri, where he farmed and was engaged in general merchandising until 1880 when he came to Frontier county and entered the land adjoining the county seat site upon which he has since resided and upon which he later erected one of the most handsome residences in the county. During the last eleven years he has superintended the work on his farm and operated a general merchandise store in town.

At the age of fifteen he joined the Baptist church and has lived a Christian life. While living at Lancaster, Mo., he was superintendent of the Sunday school. He died happy in the assurance of the saving power of the loving Savior.

In his death the wife mourns the loss of a faithful and loving husband, the children of a kind and indulgent father, and the community of a man who was true as steel to his friends, obliging to his neighbors, and, though having strong convictions of his own, tolerant of the opinions of others. His honor was unquestioned, his word as as good as his bond. Energetic in disposition, free and fearless in speech he was a man of influence and that influence was always exerted for the right as he saw it.

The entire community mourns his loss.

The Faber 13(46):5 Thursday, August 26, 1897