San Francisco County Biographies W. D. FENIMORE Transcribed 12-31-04 Marilyn R. Pankey This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Of the California Optical Company, was born in Fremont, Ohio, September 20, 1858. His remote ancestors were Frenchmen who settled in this country during the colonial period. Grandfather Fenimore was a participant in the Revolutionary war and served on the staff of General Washington. The father of our subject, Samuel Fenimore, was a native of New Jersey. He married Susan L. Dana, of Ohio, by whom he had eight children, six of whom are living. Of this family W. D. is next to the youngest. Mr. Fenimore was educated in Ohio and at Poughkeepsie, New York. He was for a time employed as a salesman, but since 1879 has been in the jewelry and optical business in Milan, Michigan, and at Fremont, Ohio. For some years he was connected with the Johnson Optical Company, and came to the Pacific coast as their representative. He was one of the organizers of and is a stockholder in the California Optical Company; has charge of the practical part of the business, and is recognized as an expert in his line of work. He is the inventor of several valuable improvements in glasses and in the instruments used in fitting and testing the eyes; makes a specialty of correcting errors in refraction. Mr. Fenimore is married and has one son. Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, pages 682, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892. Just letting you know your bio [the excerpt from the above book] has Watson being married to his own mother. Our Fenimore family did not come from France but lived in and around Fenmere and Tingewick, Buckinghamsire, England and near Oxford from 1100 until the mid 1670's when Watsons progenitor departed England to start West (now New) Jersey with William Penn signing the document in 1676 in London. First Generation 1. Watson Dana FENNIMORE was born on 20 Sep 1858 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. In 1879 he worked in various occupations in Milian, Michigan. He worked in Milan and Fremont, Ohio doing work in Jewelry and Optical. He died on 4 Jul 1972 in San Francisco, California. Salesman he worked in various occupations in Ohio. Watson is credited with several inventions related to Eyeglasses and was listed in 1892 as a Vice President of the California Optical company in San Francisco. In 1889 Watson moved to San Francisco as a representative for the Johnson Optical company. Watson Dana FENNIMORE and Estelle Sophia RAWSON were married on 7 Dec 1882 in , Cuyahoga, Ohio. Estelle Sophia RAWSON was born on 17 Jun 1861 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. She died on 24 Mar 1948 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Watson Dana FENNIMORE and Estelle Sophia RAWSON had the following children: +2 i. Arthur Rawson FENNIMORE, born on 15 Sep 1883, Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio; married Ruth GARDNER, on 7 Feb 1912, Waco, Texas; died on 17 Jul 1950, San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Second Generation 2. Arthur Rawson FENNIMORE (Watson Dana-1) was born on 15 Sep 1883 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. He died on 17 Jul 1950 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Arthur Rawson FENNIMORE and Ruth GARDNER were married on 7 Feb 1912 in Waco, Texas. Ruth GARDNER was born on 12 Dec 1890 in Texas. She died on 24 Mar 1988 in San Francisco, California. Arthur Rawson FENNIMORE and Ruth GARDNER had the following children: 3 i. Elizabeth FENIMORE was born on 15 Feb 1920 in Ohio. Here is just a 4 generation up line: Ancestors of Watson Dana FENNIMORE - 1 Oct 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Generation 1. Watson Dana FENNIMORE was born on 20 Sep 1858 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. In 1879 he worked in various occupations in Milian, Michigan. He worked in Milan and Fremont, Ohio doing work in Jewelry and Optical. He died on 4 Jul 1972 in San Francisco, California. Salesman he worked in various occupations in Ohio. Watson is credited with several inventions related to Eyeglasses and was listed in 1892 as a Vice President of the California Optical company in San Francisco. In 1889 Watson moved to San Francisco as a representative for the Johnson Optical company. Second Generation 2. Samuel FENIMORE was born in 1816 in , Burlington, New Jersey. He appeared in the census on 10 Sep 1850 in Ballville, Sandusky, Ohio.1 Samuel and and family were listed in the 1850 US Federal Census as the 1291st dwelling and 1318th family polled. Samuel was listed as follows: Fenimore, Samuel, age34, Birth in New Jersey, Farmer, Real Estate value of 4800 Susan, Wife, Age 27, Birth in Ohio Alcy S, age 1, birth in Ohio Charlotte, Age two months, birth in Ohio Samuel FENIMORE and Susan Lucinda DANA were married on 12 Mar 1846 in Ballville, Sandusky, Ohio. They were sealed together on 8 May 1985 in the Jordan River Utah LDS temple. 3. Susan Lucinda DANA was born in 1823 in , Ohio. Samuel FENIMORE and Susan Lucinda DANA had the following children: i. Elsie Lenora FENIMORE was born on 24 Dec 1848 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. ii. Alcy S FENIMORE was born on 24 Dec 1848 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. iii. Charlotte Bellsore FENIMORE was born in Jul 1850 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. She was baptized into the LDS Church on 11 Feb 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. She was sealed to her parents on 5 May 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. She was endowed on 24 May 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. BATCH 5000381 SHEET 18 1 iv. Watson Dana FENNIMORE. v. Ida Viola FENIMORE was born in 1847 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. She was baptized into the LDS Church on 11 Feb 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. She was endowed on 27 Feb 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. She was sealed to her parents on 4 May 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. vi. Floria Harriet FENIMORE was born in 1849 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. She was baptized into the LDS Church on 11 Feb 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. She was endowed on 24 Feb 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. She was sealed to her parents on 4 May 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. vii. Chester FENIMORE was born in 1855 in , Sandusky, Ohio. He died on 31 Aug 1932 in Sandusky Co., Ohio. Death Certificate #47558 He was endowed on 11 Feb 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. He was baptized into the LDS Church on 11 Feb 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. He was sealed to his parents on 1 Jun 1993 in the Boise Idaho LDS temple. Third Generation 4. John C FENIMORE was born in 1790 in , New Jersey. 5. Sarah JOHNSON was born. John C FENIMORE and Sarah JOHNSON had the following children: i. Susan FENIMORE was born. ii. Lydia Ann FENIMORE was born in 1813 in , Burlington, New Jersey. She died in 1877 in Davenport, Iowa. 2 iii. Samuel FENIMORE. iv. Ruth FENIMORE was born in 1820 in , Burlington, New Jersey. v. Henry B. FENIMORE was born in 1824. He died in 1877 in , New Jersey. Fourth Generation 8. James FENIMORE was born in 1765 in Springfield Township, Burlington, New Jersey. He served in the military on 12 Apr 1793 in New Jersey. James was listed as being under age when he served Springfield Township in the County of Burlington in New Jersey in the Revolutionary War. He signed on on the 12 of April in 1793. In 1793 James was a Captain for the Lower Springfield, New Jersey Militia. On the 7th of October in 1799 James purchased th bounty land warrant Oliver Cromwell recieved in 1791 for his service to New Jersey as a Drummer during the Revolutionary War. The warrant was used to acquire land in Licking County, Ohio. He died in 1800. James purchased Oliver Cromwells military land grant. He died before his father and his share of his fathers estate was left to James children. 9. Miriam ENOCH was Quaker on 5 Jan 1789 in Burlington Co. New Jersey. Miriam was disowned by the Burlington Meeting for marring out of the faith. Miriam was disowned by the Burlington Meeting Quakers on the 1st of May 1789 for marrying out of the unity of the faith but was listed in the 1806 will of her father in Pilesgrove Township in Salem County in New Jersey. James FENIMORE and Miriam ENOCH had the following children: 4 i. John C FENIMORE. ii. Martha FENIMORE was born on 8 May 1793 in Burlington, Burlington, New Jersey. She died on 31 Mar 1872 in , New Jersey. She was buried in Mays Landing, New Jersey. Sources 1. J. S. Fouck, Enumerator, Page 484B. Submitted by Martin Fenimore, Oct. 2006