Fenimore Chatterton

Fenimore Chatterton (July 21, 1860 – May 9, 1958) was an American businessman, politician, and lawyer. He was the sixth Governor of Wyoming from April 28, 1903 until January 2, 1905.

Chatterton was born in Oswego County, New York, but raised in Washington, D.C.. He attended The Columbian College, then Millersville State Normal School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1878 he moved to Sheridan, in Wyoming Territory, and set up as a businessman.

In 1888 he began his political career by successfully running for treasurer and probate judge of Carbon County. He served time in two classes of the Wyoming State Legislature from 1890 until 1893. In 1898 he was elected Secretary of State, but his tenure was interrupted by the death of Governor DeForest Richards in 1903, thrusting him into the position of Governor. It was during Chatterton's time as Governor that the hanging of Tom Horn occurred; it has been speculated that Chatterton's failure to win re-election as Governor in 1905 was the result of his refusal to commute Horn's death sentence. After his term as Secretary of State expired in 1907, Chatterton did not serve in public office again.

After leaving politics, Chatterton set up a private law practice, from which he retired in 1932. He was an Episcopalian and a member of the Knights Templar Masonic Order. Chatterton died in 1958, and is interred in Lakeview Cemetery, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

References

• State biography from the Wyoming State Archives
• Biographical summary from the Political Graveyard
• North Platte River from Wyoming Tales and Trails
• Fenimore Chatterton from Find-A-Grave
• Roster of State Officers from the Wyoming Secretary of State website