"This enterprising business
man and representative citizen is a native of Fayette county,
Iowa, and an honored member of one of the oldest and best known
families of Illyria township, where his parents, Thomas and
Elizabeth FENNELL, located as early as 1849, shortly after the
land was subject to entry. Thomas
FENNELL was a native of county Tipperay,
Ireland; his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth COX, was also
of Irish lineage, having first seen the light of day in county
Cork. These parents were married in their native land, but
sometime in the forties came to the United States and, as
indicated above, moved westward in 1849 and first located on
forty acres of government land in what is now Illyria township,
Fayette county, Iowa, there being at that time only a few
scattered families in that part of the county. Mr. and Mrs.
Fennell came west poor in this world's goods, the sum total of
their possession on arriving at their destination in the wild,
unsettled country of northeastern Iowa consisting of two good
oxen, a cart, a few household effects and seventy-five cents in
money. With this meager and inauspicious beginning they set
resolutely to work to improve their small farm and, being rich
in health and energy, they faced the future with hopeful
anticipation and in time realized the results of their labors in
a comfortable home.
Without entering into a detailed account of Thomas Fennell's
career, suffice it to state that it was not long until he was
able to increase his holdings and otherwise add to his means,
and at one time he was the owner of four hundred and ninety
acres of as fine land as Fayette county could boast, the greater
part of which he reduced to cultivation, using the remainder for
pasturage.
. . . . a devout Catholic and ever loyal to the Holy Mother
church, he was one of the leading spirits in organizing the
local church at Wadena and it was mainly through his generosity
that the congregation was provided with the beautiful temple of
worship in which services are now regularly conducted. Mrs.
Fennell, or "Aunt Bess," the name by which she is
familiarly known, was a fit companion for her energetic husband
and all who came within the range of her influence were profuse
in their praise of her many lovable qualities. After a long and
useful life, devoted to the good of her family, and friends, she
entered into rest on the 2d day of July, 1900, leaving to
perpetuate her memory, the love and veneration of all who knew
her.
Thomas and Elizabeth Fennell reared a family of eleven children,
namely: Mrs. Mary McINTEE, deceased; John, who is living in
retirement at Elkader, this state; Thomas, a farmer of
Independence, Oregon; William, of New Hampton, Iowa; James, a
farmer and stock raiser of Illyria township; Edward C., of this
review; Elizabeth, who lives with her father and looks after his
interests; Ella, now Mrs. Arthur A. HILL, of Los Angeles,
California, where the husband has been engaged in the mail
service for a period of seventeen years; Kattie, whose husband,
Oliver SMITH, also a resident of Los Angeles, is engaged in
mining.
Edward C. FENNELL was born October 19, 1859, in Illryia township
and spent his early life on his father's farm. After acquiring a
practical education in the public schools of Wadena, he turned
his attention to agriculture and stock raising, which he still
carries on and in which his financial success has been
commensurate with the intelligence and energy displayed in all
of his undertakings.
. . . . In October, 1906, Mr. Fennell assisted in organizing the
Wadena Savings Bank, in which he is the largest stockholder and
of which he was elected president, a position he has since held.
. . . . .
Politically, Mr. Fennell wields a strong influence for the
Republican party, but has never been an office seeker, his large
and varied business interests requiring all of his time and
attention. . . . .
On May 15, 1891, Mr. Fennell was united in the holy bonds of
wedlock with Alma MESSERLI, daughter of Christ and Marie (KREBS)
MESSERLI, these parents coming to America in
1867 from their native country of Switzerland and settling in
Illyria township, Fayette county, where they still live, the
father being one of the prosperous and enterprising citizens of
the community. Mrs. Fennell is one of six living children, the
names of her brothers and sisters being as follows: Lizzie, wife
of Louis WILBUR; Amanda, who married G. A.
RICE; Christ, Fred, and Clara, wife of W. D.MATTOCKS.
Mr. and Mrs. Fennell have one child, a daughter, Marie
Elizabeth, who was born December 31, 1894, and who is now a
student in a parochial school at Elkader. . . . .Fraternally,
Mr. Fennell is a Knight of Columbus, being a member of Lodge No.
510, of Dubuque, Iowa."