Stephen Southmyd FENN, Congress, ID (1820-1892)

FENN, Stephen Southmyd, a Delegate from the Territory of Idaho; born in Watertown, Conn., March 28, 1820; moved with his parents to Niagara County, N.Y., in 1824; attended the public schools; moved in 1841 to Jackson County, Iowa, where he held several local offices; moved to California in 1850 and engaged in mining and ranching; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1862 and commenced practice in that part of Washington Territory which became a part of the Territory of Idaho upon its organization in 1863; also engaged in mining; member of the Idaho Territorial council 1864-1867; district attorney for the first judicial district in 1869; member of the Territorial house of representatives in 1872 and served as speaker of the house; engaged in agricultural pursuits; successfully contested as a Democrat the election of Thomas W. Bennett to the Forty-fourth Congress; reelected to the Forty-fifth Congress and served from June 23, 1876, to March 3, 1879; was not a candidate for renomination in 1878; continued his former pursuits until July 1891; died in Blackfoot, Idaho, on April 13, 1892; interment in Asylum Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present