BENNETT, James A., b. 1857; 1905 Bio, Routt County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/bennettja.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August 16, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- James A. Bennett The ancestry of James A. Bennett, one of the most enterprising and successful ranch and cattle men of the Williams Fork region in Routt county, were of the sturdy Scotch race, his parents, Robert and Agnes (McCrery) Bennett, having been natives of Scotland and descendants of families living in that country for many generations. They came to the United States in early life, and after living at several different places, finally settled in Wisconsin, where they passed the remainder of their days, the father dying there in 1886 and the mother on December 31, 1903. They were well-to-do farmers in this country, and had a family of six children. Of these Margaret died and James A., Anna, John, Andrew and George are living. Their son James was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 30, 1857. He attended the common and high schools of his native city and assisted his parents in the work of the farm until he was twenty years old. In 1877, leaving the scenes and associations of his childhood and youth, he started out to make his own way in the world, with almost nothing beyond his ardent spirit, high hopes, willingness for useful labor of any kind that he could make profitable and earnest resolve to succeed by his own efforts. Devoting himself to this resolve with all his energy, from 1877 to 1885 he engaged in mining and prospecting and also did some contract work at Georgetown, Leadville and Breckenridge. His success was moderate but gratifying until the state of his health took him to the Williams fork region and changed his occupation and the course of his life. After seeking a renewal of his vigor and energy in various portions of this highly favored section of the state, in 1887 he homesteaded on one hundred and sixty acres of his present ranch and went to work in earnest to improve his property, get his land into productiveness and make a home in what was then almost a wilderness. He succeeded from the beginning in his undertaking, and as time passed he was able to purchase additional land until he now owns six hundred and forty acres, of which two hundred and seventy-five are under an advanced stage of cultivation, yielding good crops of hay, grain and vegetables. He also carries on an extensive cattle industry, and this, with his large annual yields of hay, furnishes the main source of his revenue. In the political and fraternal life of his neighborhood he takes an ardent interest, being an earnest Republican in political faith and an enthusiastic third-degree Mason in fraternal connection. As showing his interest in local public affairs, he has served his community as postmaster at Pagoda, his home office, since 1889. But his interest in the welfare of the people around him is not shown only by the efficient and satisfactory discharge of his official duties. Every worthy project for the advancement and improvement of the community and county has his cordial sympathy and his active help. Among the men of his section none is more highly esteemed and none is more worthy of high regard. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.