FENNER

Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Pages

Kindly submitted by: Rebecca Baggaley

Francis Edward FENNER, the subject of this sketch, was born September 29, 1846, in Bethlehem, Pa. He is the offspring of an old Moravian family, his father being the late Felix FENNER. His mother, who in maidenhood was Mary E. Christ, is at the time of this writing one of the oldest residents of Bethlehem.

            Until his fifteenth year Mr. FENNER attended the Moravian Parochial School of his native town. In 1862, when in the seventeenth year of his age, he enlisted as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, on an emergency call, being mustered in at Harrisburg. During his service he did provost duty in Reading, and later in Philadelphia, where he was stationed until mustered out by special order.

            After his military service Mr. FENNER served an apprenticeship, at the conclusion of which, in 1868, he became a partner with his father in the firm of F. FENNER & Sons. The business was carried on successfully until 1883, when the subject of this sketch retired for the purpose of connecting himself with the management of the South Bethlehem Supply Company. This company owns and operates one of the largest general stores in this state. Their building, a commodious three-story brick, has entrances on Broad and Fourth Streets, South Bethlehem, with a floor space of twenty thousand three hundred and seventy square feet. It is fully equipped in all its departments, and enjoys a large patronage. One of the chief departments is the buying, preparing and selling of meats, which is under the supervision and management of Mr. FENNER. In 1886 he superintended for this company the erection and construction of one of the finest and best equipped packing and refrigerating plants in this section of the country. The success of this department is largely due to his conservative business policy since he has devoted his untiring energy to catering to the wants of the public. Besides being one of the managers, Mr. FENNER is also a large stockholder in the above company. He is interested also in other business ventures, being a Director of the South Bethlehem Niagara Land Company and of the Fair and Driving Park Association. He is President of the Schiller Mining Company, of Aspen, Colo., and the owner of real estate in the three Bethlehems.

            In 1867 Mr. FENNER was married, in Bethlehem, to Miss Emma, daughter of Jacob Fenstermacher. Eight children were born to bless their home, five of whom survive. These are: Marie, now Mrs. A. K. Leuckel, of Trenton, N.J., Anna; Francis E., Jr.; Lillie May; and Harvey.

            Mr. FENNER believes in liberally educating his children, in consequences of which Marie and Anna graduated from Linden Hall Seminary, Lititz, Pa.; Lillie from the Moravian Parochial School, Bethlehem; Francis attended Orchard Lake Military Academy, Orchard Lake, Mich., and Lehigh University; and Harvey attended Pennington Seminary, at Pennington, N.J., and East Greenwich Academy, at East Greenwich, R.I.

            Politically Mr. FENNER is a Republican, and in religion is a member of the Moravian Church. He erected in 1884 one of the finest residences in Fountain Hill, South Bethlehem, at the corner of Fourth and Wyandotte Streets, where he now resides.