Mary Galentine Fenner

Mary Galentine was born in Rush, New York, May 17, 1839.[1] Her grandparents were among the first settlers of the Genesee Valley and traced their lineage back to Hollanders.[2] Her father, John Galentine, was a native of Monroe County, then Ontario County, New York born 1803, was a leading man in Monroe County for many years, serving as Justice of Peace and Deputy Sheriff. In early life, he worked on a farm, but later helped to construct the Erie Canal. His wife was Isabel Stull, daughter of Jacob Stull, one of the earliest settlers of Western New York. Fenner had three siblings, Edwin J., Augusta Jane, and Jacob S.[3]

Fenner was educated in Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Lima, New York. Among her school essays are several written in blank verse. She was graduated in 1861.[2]

At a very early age, Fenner wrote for the Rural New Yorker. Her first published poem, "In Memoriam," dedicated to her mother on the anniversary of her father's death, in 1873. was written while she could not raise her head from her pillow. She subsequently became a prolific versifier, who published one volume of poems.[2]

She married Rev. Francis Drake Fenner on July 24, 1861,[4] one month after completing her studies at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. They had three children, Leland, Anna, and Carl. Francis was a graduate of Rochester University and Rochester Theological Seminary (now Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School). Affiliated with the Seneca Baptist Association,[4] he served as pastor of Baptist churches in Ovid Centre, New York, 1864-07; Jordan, New York, 1807-71; Parma, New York, 1871-74; Ovid Centre, 1874-78; Somerset, New York, 1873-83; and Royalton, New York, 1883.[5]

By 1893, they were living in North Manlius, New York, where he had a parish.[2] After she was widowed in 1894, Fenner removed to Jordan, New York.[3] She died in 1903 and is buried at Evergreen Lawn Cemetery, Akron, New York.

• Poems[1]