Dr. William Tarvin Fenker1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 12157, (1889 - 1973)
FatherAlbert August Fenker4,5,6 (19 Sep 1862 - 27 May 1933)
MotherMary Grant Hillebrandt7,5,6 (2 Apr 1865 - 19 Dec 1941)

Key Events:

Birth: 3 Dec 1889, Covington, Kentucky8,9,10
Marriage: 5 May 1917, Monroe Co., Michigan, Mary Lillie Cheetham (3 Jan 1890 - 8 Oct 1951)11,12,13
Death: 17 Dec 1973, Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio14,15,16
Burial: 19 Dec 1973, Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky, Ohio17
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker
AncestryThe Fenker Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Dr. William Tarvin Fenker was born on 3 Dec 1889 in Covington, Kentucky.8,9,10
     He moved to Michigan with his parents by 1894.18 He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Oxford Twp, Oakland Co., Michigan, in the household of his parents, Albert August Fenker and Mary Grant Hillebrandt.4
     He moved to Detroit with his parents by 1903.19,20 He moved to Columbus, Ohio, with his parents by 1906.21,22,23 He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, in the household of his parents.5
     William earned his medical degree at Starling Ohio Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, in 1914.24,25
     William married Mary Lillie Cheetham, daughter of John Cheetham and Eve Rushton, on 5 May 1917 in Monroe Co., Michigan, with Rev. F. A. Lendrum, Methodist Episcopal minister, officiating.11,12,13

Military Service in World War I --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     William entered the Army Medical Corps as a First Lieutenant 29 May 1917. He was assigned to the American Expeditionary Forces 22 July 1917 to 6 Mar 1919, serving in Washington D.C., Belgium, and France, including the Somme Offensive. He was wounded in action 31 Mar 1918. He was severely gassed 21 Mar 1819 and hospitalized eight weeks in London, then saw service in hospitals near London until Feb 1919 when he sailed for home. He was promoted to Captain 17 Feb 1919 but the promotion was not announced until some three months after the discharge.26,27,28
     He received an honorable discharge 17 Feb 1919, as 1st Lieutenant.29,30,31
     His discharge did not reflect his advancement to Captain which was not announced until some three months after the discharge. The loss of his son in World War II prompted him to recall the oversight and he sought a correction. The Commodore of the American Legion in Sandusky wrote to the Adjutant General in 1947, and correspondence continued for many years. Following the assistance of Congressman A. D. Baumhart, Jr., a correction was finally issued 19 Oct 1960.32,33 On 6 Sep 1961 he was awarded the Purple Heart at the American Legion in Sandusky for his injuries in 1918.34

Returning to Civilian Life --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     William and Mary appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio, at 408 East Monroe St., enumerated 3 Jan 1920.12
     William and Mary appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio, at 1226 Wayne St., enumerated 15 Apr 1930, reporting that the family owned a home worth $30,000, and had a radio. Their children William, Ruth and Mary were listed as living with them.35
     William and Mary appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio, at 1226 Wayne St., enumerated 16 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $20,000, and that they had lived in the same house in 1935. Their children William, Ruth and Mary were listed as living with them.36
     He was a physician and surgeon with his own practice, reporting in 1940 he had worked 52 weeks the prior year in 408 West Monroe St., Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio.37,38,39,40 He registered for the draft for World War II on 25 Apr 1942, while living at 1226 Wayne St., Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio, reporting he was self-employed.1
     His wife died on 8 Oct 1951 in Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio.41,42
     William died on 17 Dec 1973 in Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio, at age 84.14,15,16 He was buried on 19 Dec 1973 in Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky, Ohio.17

Children:
     Children with Mary Lillie Cheetham:

Citations

  1. [S10556] William Tarvin Fenker, World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration).
  2. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows name as William T. Fenker.
  3. [S483] Albert A. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Ohio, shows name as William T. Fenker.
  4. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan.
  5. [S483] Albert A. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Ohio.
  6. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1917, Monroe Co., no. 357, William T. Fenker and Mary Lillie Cheetham.
  7. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows him as the son of her husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  8. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows month, year, age 10, and state.
  9. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1917, Monroe Co., no. 357, William T. Fenker and Mary Lillie Cheetham, shows age 27 at marriage 5 May 1917 and state.
  10. [S10556] William Tarvin Fenker, World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration), shows date, city, and state.
  11. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1917, Monroe Co., no. 357, William T. Fenker and Mary Lillie Cheetham, shows date, county, state, and officiant.
  12. [S432] William T. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Erie Co., Ohio.
  13. [S735] Galbreath, History of Ohio, vol. IV, pg 300, shows date.
  14. [S1323] "Ohio Deaths, 1958-2002," Ancestry.com, record for William T Fenker, shows date, county, and certificate 093870, volume 21522.
  15. [S130] "Social Security Death Index," Rootsweb.com, record for William Fenker, Soc. Sec. No. 295-40-4887, shows month, year, and last residence as " 44870 (Sandusky, Erie, OH)."
  16. [S10559] Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky, Ohio, online search, online, record for Dr. William T Fenker, shows date.
  17. [S10559] Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky, Ohio, online search, online, record for Dr. William T Fenker.
  18. [S10505] Detroit City Directory, 1894, pg 21, shows him in the Removals, Alterations and Omissions section, shows company and residence address.
  19. [S10505] Detroit City Directory, 1903, pg 989; 1905, pg 1051.
  20. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows occupation as commercial salesman.
  21. [S8886] R. L. Polk & Co's Columbus City Directory, 1906, pg 378; 1908, pg 368; 1917, pg 479.
  22. [S483] Albert A. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Ohio, shows occupation as commercial trader in regalia.
  23. [S432] William T. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Erie Co., Ohio, shows he was a commercial trader in regalia.
  24. [S490] Mary S. Fenker letter to author (100), 21 Dec 2002, shows degree, school, and location.
  25. [S735] Galbreath, History of Ohio, vol. IV, pg 300, shows school, "now the medical department of the State University," and year.
  26. [S78] "Ohio Military Men, 1917-1918," Ancestry.com, record for William Tarvin Fenker, shows dates of appointment to First Lieutenant, dates and areas of service, and injury.
  27. [S735] Galbreath, History of Ohio, vol. IV, pg 300, shows he entered service in Medical Corps in Apr 1817, commissioned as Lt., saw duty in Washington D.C., London, Belgium, and Northern France; was severely gassed 21 Mar 1819 and hospitalized eight weeks in London, then saw service in hospitals near London until Feb 1919 when he sailed for home, then discharged following month.
  28. [S5655] "City Doctor Wins Captain's Bars," Sandusky Register, 9 Dec 1960, gives dates of enlistment and discharge.
  29. [S78] "Ohio Military Men, 1917-1918," Ancestry.com, record for William Tarvin Fenker, shows date of discharge.
  30. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for William Tarvin Fenker, Soc. Sec. No. 295-40-4887, shows release date.
  31. [S5655] "City Doctor Wins Captain's Bars," Sandusky Register, 9 Dec 1960, gives date of discharge.
  32. [S5655] "City Doctor Wins Captain's Bars," Sandusky Register, 9 Dec 1960, gives dates of enlistment and discharge, ranks, and story of late recognition.
  33. [S490] Mary S. Fenker letter to author (100), 21 Dec 2002, shows details of late recognition of advancement to Captain.
  34. [S5656] "After 43 Years Purple Heart Award," Sandusky Register, 7 Sep 1961.
  35. [S489] William T. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Erie Co., Ohio.
  36. [S10555] Wm T. Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Erie Co., Ohio.
  37. [S432] William T. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Erie Co., Ohio, shows occupation as medical doctor, with his own office.
  38. [S489] William T. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Erie Co., Ohio, shows occupation as physician with his own office.
  39. [S10555] Wm T. Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Erie Co., Ohio, shows occupation as doctor and industry as private business.
  40. [S735] Galbreath, History of Ohio, vol. IV, pg 300, shows he was "one of the able and polular physicians and surgeons of Erie County, where he established a successful practice at the county seat, the City of Sandusky," and address.
  41. [S1262] Mary L. Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows date, hospital, city, and county.
  42. [S537] Mary S. Fenker letter to author (100), 16 Mar 2003, shows date and city.
  43. [S735] Galbreath, History of Ohio, vol. IV, pg 300.
  44. [S470] Battema letter to Edward Allen Fenker, 5 May 1983.
  45. [S10553] Mary Lois Mary Lois Fenker-Lindsley obituary, David F. Koch Funeral & Cremation Services.