Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

a most capable manner. Previous to the
formation of the Republican party, he was
among the leading Abolitionists, and
throughout his lifetime took a very active
interest in all matters of public importance.
On August 30, 1838, he married
Mary Abigail Grosvenor Abbe, daughter
of Joshua and Marcis (Grosvenor) Abbe,
of Bangor, Maine. She was born August
17, 1816, in New Gloucester, and died in
Stamford, Connecticut, April 17, 1905.
They were the parents of four sons and
eight daughters.
(VII) Oliver Griswold Fessenden, son
of Rev. Samuel Clement and Mary A. G.
(Abbe) Fessenden, was born December
2 S> 1855. He removed with the family to
Stamford, Connecticut. Mr. Fessenden
married Virginia Weed, and they were
the parents of a son and daughter.
(VIII) C. Milton Fessenden, son of
Oliver Griswold and Virginia (Weed)
Fessenden, was born in Chicago, Illinois,
August 28, 1883, and was reared in Stamford,
Connecticut. He graduated from
the High School there in 1902, and com-
pleted his preparation for college at the
Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut.
In 1907 he was graduated from Yale College
with the degree of A. B., after which
he spent two years in Yale Law School
and was admitted to the bar in 1910.
Subsequently he entered the law office of
Fessenden & Carter (his uncle, Hon.
Samuel Fessenden, being the first named
member of the firm), remaining for two
years, and for a similar length of time
engaged in practice alone. In 191 5 his
present partnership was formed with
Matthew H. Kenealy, under the firm
name of Fessenden & Kenealy.
In politics Mr. Fessenden is a Republican,
and was an alternate to the National
Convention in Chicago in 1916; he
is now serving as chairman of the Fourth
Republican Congressional Committee. De-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
S
siring to aid his country, Mr. Fessenden
sought service in the United States State
Reserve Corps and was appointed major,
associated with the Judge Advocate De-
partment. He went to France as assist-
ant judge advocate of the 33rd Division.
He became ill in France, and was honorably
discharged and returned to America,
July 1, 1918. Mr. Fessenden is one
of the trustees of the Connecticut School
for Boys, and is a member of the board
of directors of the Associated Charities.
His fraternal connections are : Member of
Union Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons ; Puritan Lodge, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows ; Delta
Kappa Epsilon ; Corbey Court at Yale
Woodway Country Club ; Suburban Club.
Mr. Fessenden married Anna M. Barklay,
daughter of Wallace D. and Mary
(McWilliam) Barklay, of New York City,
and they are active attendants of the
Congregational church of Stamford.
FESSENDEN, Hon. Samuel,
Lawyer, Soldier, Statesman.
The concrete evidences of public pros-
perity rise in dignity and grandeur, in
masses of stone, shafts of marble, and
statues of bronze ; so a city, a common-
wealth, a nation, present an impressive
front to the casual observer. These are
but the habiliments of the body politic,
the seemly ornaments, the crown. The
spirit lives in those names which are not
merely carved on ornate tablets, but
abide in the hearts of the people. This
force is the impetus of public progress,
the essence of public honor. One of these
names is Samuel Fessenden, and to the
people of Connecticut this is a name
which will always be significant of the
best in public life.
Hon. Samuel Fessenden was born in
Rockland, Maine, April 12, 1847, a