Cumberland County, Maine - Edwin A. Fessenden, M.D.
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Biography
Edwin A. Fessenden, M.D.
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 540-541


Edwin A. Fessenden, M.D., a prominent and successful physician of Portland,
where he has an office at 478½ Congress Street, was born in the township of
Washington, near Monroe, Green County, Wis., on December 12, 1848, son of Jared
and Augusta E. (Pierce) Fessenden. Dr. Fessenden is a descendant of the branch
of the Fessenden family that settled in Maine. His grandfather, Solomon
Fessenden, removed from that State to New York, whence in later life be went to
Wisconsin.

Jared Fessenden, the son of Solomon, was born in Jamestown, N.Y. On arriving at
years of discretion, he went to Green County, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming.
At that time the settlement of the district had made but little progress, and
Jared's life there was practically that of a pioneer. His land had not been
previously cultivated; and he was obliged to convey his wheat and other products
to Milwaukee, then the nearest shipping point, in order to reach the consumer.
In company with two brothers-in-law he served as a soldier in the Black Hawk
War. He was an honored and respected citizen of that community. He served as
Supervisor of the town, and lived on his farm up to the time of his death. His
wife, who was born in Massachusetts, reared him a family of four children, as
follows: Edwin A. Fessenden, M.D.; Eugene, living in Kansas; Flora, the wife of
Richard H. Gill, residing near Clyde, Kan.; and Clara, who married Ernest H.
Fessenden, and also lives near Clyde.

Edwin A. Fessenden, M.D., acquired the rudiments of his education in the common
schools of Monroe, Wis. When but sixteen. years of age, he enlisted in Company G
of the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. The regiment was assigned to the Second
Brigade of the Seventeenth Army Corps, commanded by General John A. Logan, which
it joined at Morehead City, N.C., as Sherman's army was returning from the march
to the sea. That was just before the battle of Goldsboro, after which Dr.
Fessenden accompanied his regiment to Washington and was present at the Grand
Review held in celebration of the success of the Union cause and the restoration
of peace. After this the regiment was ordered to Fort Kearney, Neb., to fight
the Indians. It went first to Wheeling, W. Va., thence by boat to Fort
Leavenworth, Kan., where it arrived July 4, 1865. After receiving necessary
supplies here, it marched the remaining part of the journey to Fort Kearney.
Shortly after it was. ordered back, and was mustered out of service at
Springfield, Ill., in August, 1865. Dr. Fessenden then returned to his home in
Wisconsin. As soon as he recruited his health, he resumed his school work,
graduating from the Monroe High School two years later. He then taught school
for a time. Subsequently he went to Kansas and engaged in stock dealing and
feeding. While there he attended the State Normal School at Emporia. After
graduating there, he began to study medicine with Dr. Jeannotte, of Clyde, Kan.
He afterward took a course of lectures at the Bellevue Medical College in New
York, and graduated in the class of 1889. Shortly after he began the practice of
his profession at Clyde, Kan. He came east to Falmouth, Me., in 1890, and
attended the patients of a friend for two years. Then, in November, 1892, he
settled in Portland, where he has since resided. Dr. Fessenden took a course at
the Post-graduate School of New York City in 1889, and in 1895 he took a post-
graduate course in the Polyclinic School of that city.

Dr. Fessenden married Miss Mary Pengra, a daughter of Marshall H. Pengra, of
Sylvester, Green County, Wis., and has one daughter, Mary, who is still at home.
He casts his vote with the Republican Party, but is not otherwise actively
interested in political matters. During his residence in Kansas he was a member
of the Republican Medical Association of that State and of the Knights of
Pythias at Logan, Kan. The Portland fraternal orders with which he is affiliated
are: Bosworth Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he is Surgeon; the
Ancient Landmark Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; and Greenleaf Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.