Fenimore Chatterton was born on July 21, 1860 in Oswego County, New York, and was raised in Washington, D.C. where he attended public schools. After attending Columbian University (now George Washington University) he graduated from Millersville State Normal School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1878 he moved to Fort Steele, Wyoming, where became a clerk in a general mercantile and banking concern. He became very successful at business and later practiced law. Chatterton was active in politics, serving as county treasurer and probate judge of Carbon County (1888), state senator (1890-91, 1893), and secretary of state for (1898-1907). He became the Acting Governor from April 28, 1903 due to the death of Governor DeForest Richards. After his term in office, Chatterton continued his legal practice and served on numerous boards and commissions until his retirement in 1932.

He married Stella Wyland on October 15,1900. They had two daughters (Eleanor and Constance).

Chatterton died on May 9, 1958 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Inaugural Proclamation 1903

The Fenimore Chatterton Collection

The records from Chatterton's term in office include:

• General Records
• Election Returns
• Newsclipping, DeForest Richard's Death
• Fish Hatcheries
• President McKinley National Memorial Fund
• Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission
• Exhibit/Visitor's Registers
• Administrative Records
• Correspondence
• General Correspondence
• Outgoing Correspondence
• Incoming Correspondence
• Exposition Correspondence
• Financial Records
• Reports
• Mine Inspector Report
• Appointment Records
• Proclamations
• Requisitions and Extraditions
• Military and Indian Affairs
• Lightning Creek Raid
• Spanish-American War Medal Recipients
• Miscellaneous Items
• Legislative Affairs
• State of Wyoming vs. Tom Horn

Additional Resources

• Fenimore Chatterton Papers, 1863-1977, Collection Number 00239, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
• "Wyo Wiskers: Fenimore Chatterton", Wyoming Postscripts blog, Wyoming State Archives, November 1, 2013. (accessed July 2015)
• "More Than a Handsome 'Stache: Fenimore Chatterton", Wyoming Postscripts blog, Wyoming State Archives, July 21, 2015. (accessed July 2015)