Sebastian County ArArchives Biographies.....Benning, H. L. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 August 16, 2009, 10:48 pm

Source: See Full Citation Below Biography
Author: S. J. Clarke

H. L. BENNING.
    For seventeen years H. L. Benning has been numbered among the prominent and
progressive citizens of Fort Smith and has been the promoter of one of its
leading business enterprises. The growth and development of a city depends upon
its industrial and commercial activities and thus Mr. Benning has contributed in
no small degree to the benefit and upbuilding of Fort Smith. His connection with
any undertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his
nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has
earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business and in
his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods which have won for
him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellow-men. He is now the
president of the Carnahan Drug Company, which owns and controls three large drug
stores and a central warehouse in this city, from which the three retail
establishments are supplied.

    A native of Missouri, H. L. Benning was born in Wheeling, in 1875, and in
his youth enjoyed liberal educational opportunities. He attended the William
Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri, and then in preparation for a business
career he entered the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated
with the class of 1897. He then followed his profession in Missouri for about
seven years and in 1904 came to Fort Smith, where he purchased the drug business
of J. P. Davis and conducted the store under the firm style of Benning &
Underwood. At a later date the junior partner sold out and the firm became
Benning & Hattaway. In 1909 this firm joined with the Carnahan Drug Company, the
business then being reorganized and incorporated with the following officers: H.
L. Benning, president; Earl Carnahan, first vice president; R. Condrey,
treasurer; and J. H. Carnahan, secretary. They now conduct three fine large drug
stores, which are a credit to the city. One of these is situated at 801 Garrison
avenue and is called the Crescent Drug Store, managed by Earl Carnahan. A
second, called The Palace, is situated at 603 Garrison avenue and is managed by
Mr. Benning. The third, known as the Sterling Drug Store, is at 1101 Garrison
avenue and is under the management of Mr. Condrey, while Mr. Benning has charge
of the general warehouse located at 419 Garrison avenue, from which all three
stores obtain their supplies. The business is now one of very substantial and
gratifying proportions. Back of it are men of wide experience in this line of
business and of marked enterprise. Mr. Benning never stops short of the
successful accomplishment of his purpose and attacks everything with a
contagious enthusiasm which produces results.

    In 1898 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Benning and Miss Rose Stade, a
daughter of William Stade of Elmwood, Canada, and they have become the parents
of two daughters: Frances and Olive. The former was graduated from the
University of Missouri. April 27, 1921, with the degree of Bachelor of Science,
having specialized in modern languages. The other daughter, Olive, is now a
sophomore in the University of Missouri.


    Mr. Benning is well known through fraternal relations, belonging to the
Knights of Pythias and to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His interest
in business conditions of the city is manifest through his connection with the
Retail Merchants Association, of which he is now a director. He likewise belongs
to the Kappa Alpha, a fraternity of William Jewell College of Missouri, and he
is a member of the Lions Club. He is a man of honesty of purpose, whose courtesy
is unfailing and whose integrity is above question. Moreover, he is actuated by
a most progressive spirit which has kept him in touch with the trend of business
developments and he is justly accorded a place among the prominent and
representative merchants of Fort Smith.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922



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