Town of Fenton, NY Website
Town of Fenton, NY Website
The township of Fenton came into existence December 3d, 1855, in pursuance to an act of the board of supervisors of Broome county, being formed from territory originally belonging to the township of Chenango. The name at first given to the newly created township was Port Crane, this being out of respect to Jason Crane, an engineer employed in constructing the Chenango canal. The board of supervisors, however, changed the name to that of Fenton, who was at the time of this action (1867) Governor of New York State.
There is authority for stating that the first settlement in this township was made in 1788 by Elisha Pease, who cut his way into what was then a wilderness and began to clear land for a farm. Chester Pease, his son, was the first child born in the township, in 1793. Jared Page, who gave his name to Page Brook, probably came next, being followed shortly afterward by Garret Williamson, Isaac Page, John F. Miller, and Elias Miller. A descendant of William Miller, by the name of Addison, figured prominently in the life of the township, serving as justice of the peace for many years and also as justice of the sessions, passing away only at a comparatively recent date at his home in North Fenton. Other prominent families of early date were Michael McDonald, Caleb Ketchum, Reuben McDaniels, Lewis Cross, Peter Shaw, who located at Port Crane about the beginning of the nineteenth century; Jeremiah Holt, Richard Lewis, John and Henry Kales, all of whom were active in the public life of the township. At Ogden, Joseph Ogden settled about 1790. A number of these men have descendants still living in the township.
http://www.townoffenton.com/
