Descendants of Capt. Arthur Fenner

Rufus Waterman Fenner

[b 23 Mar. 1830 at Stockton, Chautauqua, NY; d 2 Nov. 1909 at Chautauqua, NY] Rufus Waterman Fenner m Andalucia L. Penoyer [b 24 Dec. 1839; d 15 May 1895 at South Stockton, Chautauqua, NY] on 16 Apr. 1860. Rufus invented and manufactured the R.W. Fenner butter churn:

This was a revolving style of butter churn like a barrel churn or box churn. However it had a six sided or hexagonal container. In a barrel churn the cream would fall twice every revolution, in a box churn it would fall four times but in this churn the cream would fall 6 times resulting in a more even, smoother motion. Advertisements from 1893 listed R.W. Fenner of South Stockton, New York as the manufacturer and sizes from one cow up to 500 gallons were advertised. This butter churn was also advertised to not only churn the butter but also work out the buttermilk, eliminating the need for a separate butter worker. This is one churn that we believe was never patented.

At some point Fredrickson Bros. of Cassadaga, New York and later Jamestown, New York purchased the rights to manufacture this butter churn, as many will be found with their name. We have seen advertisements as late as 1923 for this butter churn. They advertised sizes from 6 gallons up to 500 gallons. The larger sizes had a pulley to be driven by a motor and had two covers to remove the butter.[1]

Children of Rufus and Andalucia:

Carrie B. [b ca. 1863 in NY; d in Rochester, Monroe, NY] m J.W. Moore.
Christopher Carlton [b 28 Dec. 1876 at South Stockton, NY; d 6 June 1946 at Bemus Point, NY] m Katie E. Harvey.

Sources:
1. “Wood Butter Churns Page 1—Swinging, Revolving & Rocking Churns,” Doug & Linda’s Dairy Antique Site: https://www.webpal.org/SAFE/aaarecovery/2_food_storage/Eggs/Wood_Butter_Churns_1.html
2. Email from Richard Arthur Fenner, 12 May 2020.
3. Rufus’ memorial at FindaGrave, no. 15743986