Grafton Thrasher Fenker1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 12702, (1882 - 1976)
FatherFrederick John Fenker4,2 (25 Dec 1858 - 13 Nov 1916)
MotherMary Ellen Marcum5,2 (8 Mar 1865 - 5 Jun 1921)

Key Events:

Birth: 16 Dec 1882, Covington, Kentucky6,7,8
Marriage: 5 Jun 1909, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, Edith L. Marshall (Nov 1883 - 20 Sep 1964)9,10
Death: 18 Sep 1976, Pinellas Co., Florida11,12,13,14
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker
AncestryThe Fenker Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Grafton Thrasher Fenker was born on 16 Dec 1882 in Covington, Kentucky.6,7,8
     He moved to Michigan with his parents by 1900.15 He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, in the household of his parents, Frederick John Fenker and Mary Ellen Marcum.4
     He was an apprentice dentist in 1900, and a dentist in the practice of William E. Sanborn by 1904. He continued as a dentist until he moved to Ohio.16,17
     Grafton married Edith L. Marshall, daughter of George Marshall and Hannah Hill, on 5 Jun 1909 in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, with Rev. James Alexander Jenkins officiating.9,10
     Grafton and Edith appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Lakewood, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, at 1370 Brockley Ave., enumerated 12 May 1910.18
     In Cleveland Grafton established the Fenker Dental Supply Co. By 1913 his business was called the Fenker Dental Laboratory. By the following year he seems to have closed his business and become a traveling salesman.19,20
     Grafton registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at 1374 Brockley Ave., Lakewood, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, reporting he was employed as a traveling salesman for Edwards X-Ray Manufacturing Co. in Cleveland.3
     Grafton and Edith moved to Detroit, where he had lived before their marriage, about 1919. They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, at 443 Delaware Ave., enumerated 9 Jan 1920.21
     In Detroit he was a sales manager for Briggs-Kessler Co., a dental supply company.22,23
     Grafton and Edith appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Orchard Lake, Oakland Co., Michigan, in the household of his cousin Ernst Hillebrandt Fenker and his wife, May Elise Schauroth.24
     Grafton and Edith appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Orchard Lake, Oakland Co., Michigan, in the household of his cousin Ernst and his wife, May. They all reported they had lived in the same house in 1935.25
     By 1927 he was vice-president of Briggs-Kessler, continuing in that role until his retirement. In 1940 he reported he had worked 40 hours the last week of March, and 52 weeks the prior year, earning $2,500.26,27,28,29 He registered for the draft for World War II on 26 Apr 1942, while living at 4764 Old Orchard Trail, West Bloomfield, Oakland Co., Michigan, reporting he was employed by the Briggs Kessler Co., in Detroit.30
     Grafton and Edith moved to Florida about 1955, when they were living at 731 50th Ave. S, St. Petersburg.31,32
     His wife died on 20 Sep 1964 in Pinellas Co., Florida.33,34
     Grafton died on 18 Sep 1976 in Pinellas Co., Florida, at age 93.11,12,13,14

Children:
     There were no children with Edith L. Marshall

Citations

  1. [S10501] Fred J. Fenton household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Michigan, shows name as Grafton T. Fenton.
  2. [S864] Marriage Records, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, no. 62335, Grafton T. Fenker - Edith M. Hasselo, Jun 1909.
  3. [S10507] Grafton Thrasher Fenker, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  4. [S10501] Fred J. Fenton household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Michigan.
  5. [S10501] Fred J. Fenton household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Michigan, shows him as the son of her husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  6. [S10501] Fred J. Fenton household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Michigan, shows month, year, age 17, and state.
  7. [S10508] Grafton Thrasher Fenker, World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of Michigan, shows date, as 16th, city, and state.
  8. [S889] "Florida Death Index, 1936-1998," Ancestry.com, record for Grafton T. Fenker, citing certificate 67131, shows date, as 12th.
  9. [S864] Marriage Records, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, no. 62335, Grafton T. Fenker - Edith M. Hasselo, Jun 1909, shows her second marriage, date, and officiant.
  10. [S1848] Grafton T. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, shows both married one year; his marital status shows as "M-1" while hers is "M-2" apparently to indicate this was her second marriage.
  11. [S10512] Grafton T. Fenker obituary, Tampa Bay Times, shows date.
  12. [S889] "Florida Death Index, 1936-1998," Ancestry.com, record for Grafton T. Fenker, citing certificate 67131, shows date and place.
  13. [S409] Smithies, "Fenker Family," e-mail to author (100), 2 Jan 2002, shows month and year.
  14. [S130] "Social Security Death Index," Rootsweb.com, record for Grafton Fenker, Soc. Sec. No. 375-03-8262, shows month and year, and last residence as "33731 (Saint Petersburg, Pinellas, FL)."
  15. [S10506] The Cleveland Directory, 1909, pg 442.
  16. [S10501] Fred J. Fenton household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Michigan, shows occupation as apprentice dentist.
  17. [S10505] Detroit City Directory, 1904, pp 1124, 2075; 1907, pg 1022.
  18. [S1848] Grafton T. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio.
  19. [S1848] Grafton T. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, shows occupation as merchant and industry as dental supplies.
  20. [S10506] The Cleveland Directory, 1912, pg 473, shows him as pres-treas of Fenker Dental Supply Co.; 1913, pg 481; and 1914, pg 475, shows occupation as coml trav.
  21. [S1869] Grafton T. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Michigan.
  22. [S1869] Grafton T. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Michigan, shows occupation as salesman and industry as dental sup co.
  23. [S10505] Detroit City Directory, 1920, pp 1200, 941.
  24. [S10509] Ernest H. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan.
  25. [S10510] Ernest Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan.
  26. [S10505] Detroit City Directory, 1927, pp 979.
  27. [S10509] Ernest H. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows occupation as manager and industry as wholesale company.
  28. [S10510] Ernest Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows occupation as executive and industry as wholesale dental.
  29. [S10512] Grafton T. Fenker obituary, Tampa Bay Times, shows he was vice president of Brigg Kelser Dental Supply Co. before he moved to Florida.
  30. [S10508] Grafton Thrasher Fenker, World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of Michigan.
  31. [S10511] Polk's St. Petersburg City Directory, 1955, pg 255.
  32. [S10512] Grafton T. Fenker obituary, Tampa Bay Times, shows shows he came there 22 years ago.
  33. [S10513] Edith L. Fenker obituary, Tampa Bay Times, shows date.
  34. [S889] "Florida Death Index, 1936-1998," Ancestry.com, record for Edith L Fenker, citing volume 2622, certificate 42804, shows month, year, and county.