Biography of

Aaron Fenimore, Co E

Aaron Fenimore was born in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio on April 26, 1844. His parents were Ebeneezer Ross Fenimore and the former Nancy H. Mowbray. His brother William L. Fenimore was also a member of the 18th Ohio. In the 1860 census, he is listed as being a farmer and living at home with his mother.

On October 5, 1861, he enlisted in Captain Philip Taylor's Company E of the 18th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Camp Wool, Athens, Athens County, Ohio. He is listed as being 5 feet 6 inches tall and having a light complexion. His eyes are given as grey and hair is brown. From the hospital records, it appears he spent a good portion of his army time in the hospital. His medical records show that he was in the hospital in April, 1862 with rheumatism related to duty. The sleeping in unfavorable conditions and rather unhealthy diet seemed to be too much for him. In December, before the battle of Stones River, he was in the hospital from the 8th to 27th, but he may have been with the sick who were forced to make the march with the regiment to Murfreesboro. It is unclear if he took part in the battle, but conjecture would conclude that he probably did not. He was back in the Hospital on the 6th of January to the 26th for chronic diarrhea. On May 22, 1863, he again shows on the rolls of the hospital at Nashville. He may have been furloughed home later and was transferred to the 1st Regiment, Veteran Volunteer Corps on November 1, 1863. He was mustered out with his unit at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio on
November 9, 1864.

Shortly after the war, Aaron headed west with many others searching for a better life. On June 17, 1866, he was married to Nancy Elizabeth Sharp by the Reverend Thomas Jaynes in Savannah, Nodaway Twp., Andrew County, Missouri. Together they had 11 children: John Milton, Levi Ross, Nancy Elizabeth, Fredrich, Edward Marvel, Mary Catherine (Katie), Flora Alice, Orpheus, Dora Alice, Wallace, and Stella. About 1875, he moved to Kansas and was living in Sterling, Reno County at the time of the 1880 Census. By 1886, he had taken a donation land claim in Dollars Corner, Washington. His homestead is now a Realty Corner store as shown on the map.

(Click on map for larger image)

After the birth of his daughter, Dora, he traded his homestead for a wagon and team and moved to Sand Hill, Oregon and was living in Cherryville, Oregon by 1890. In December of that year, he made application for a pension for his Civil War disabilities and was examined medically. Sadly, he never learned the outcome of this application, because he was involved in a tragic accident. While digging a well on his homestead he became overcome with methane fumes. On the 4th of June, 1891, the newspaper, Daily Oregon Statesman, had an article that reads:
"Aaron Fenamore, who lived near Cherryville, was on Sunday engaged with a neighbor in digging a well. After being in the well a short time, Fenamore asked to be hauled up, as he felt very faint. Just before reaching the top of the well, which is fifty feet deep, Fenamore let go and fell to the bottom, striking his breast. As soon as possible he was taken up, but life was extinct. Fenamore was an old soldier and a man of family, who were dependent on him."

Yancy Dukes and George Dukes, both residents of Cherryville, arrived at the accident scene and helped remove Aaron's body from the well. He is buried in the Belle Passi Cemetery, Woodburn, Marion County, Oregon. His grave is in Section 5, Lot 007. As an interesting note, even good can come from bad, as it is reported by his grandson, Lloyd Fenimore, that the death forced the family to move from the homestead. As a result, the forest fire that swept through the area shortly after his death would have killed the entire family.

(Information provided by Martin Fenimore, who has also graciously granted permission to for this website to use his research.)