John J. Fenelon Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1758-1759 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN J. FENELON is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having 
been born on a farm in the vicinity of the city of Brandon, Fond du 
Lac county, on the 20th of June, 1861, and being a son of William and 
Catherine (Fitzpatrick) Fenelon, both of whom were born in County 
Carlow, Ireland, where their respective families had been established 
for many generations. Both the paternal and maternal grandfathers of the 
subject emigrated from the Emerald Isle to America in 1850, and both 
settled in Wisconsin, where they became successful farmers and where 
they passed the remainder of their lives. The parents of the subject are 
still residents of Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Of the six children in 
the family, John J. was the second in order of birth, while of the 
number five are living.

John J. Fenelon passed his boyhood days on the old homestead farm, 
and after completing the curriculum of the public schools, including the 
high school, in which he was graduated, he entered Ripon College, Ripon, 
Wisconsin, and there continued his studies for two years. In 1885 he 
came to the present state of South Dakota and located in Campbell 
county, taking up a homestead seven miles southeast of the village of 
Pollock and being one of the earliest settlers in this section. He still 
owns the homestead mentioned. In 1892 he was elected to represent his 
district in the state legislature and in 1894 was elected county 
treasurer, being chosen as his own successor in the latter office in 
1896. He made Mound City, the county seat, his headquarters until 1901, 
in the autumn of which year he came to the newly established town of 
Pollock, moving his house from Mound City, and as this was the first 
house in Pollock he may well be said to be in a significant sense one of 
the founders and builders of the town. He had previously effected the 
organization of the bank, under the title of the Pollock State Bank, and 
on the 8th of November, 1901, the bank established was formally opened 
for business in its present location. The enterprise has proved 
successful, the subject acting as cashier of the same. Mr. Fenelon is 
associated with his brother, William, in the ownership of a large farm 
south of Pollock, and they are also largely concerned in the raising of 
live stock. In politics the subject is a staunch Democrat, and takes an 
active interest in the furtherance of the party cause.

	On the 9th of November, 1899, Mr. Fenelon was united in marriage to 
Miss Flora E. Irwin, who was born and reared in Wisconsin, of which 
state her parents were pioneers. Of this union have been born two 
children, Irwin and Katherine.