BENNETT BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== BENNETT, James E. - b: 1850 KY source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 342 residence: Clinton, Clinton Twp James E. Bennett, a former Henry County sheriff who has been prominently identified with the affairs of this county for a number of years, is a native of Kentucky. He was born June 19, 1850, and is a son of John and Martha (Ham) Bennett, both natives of Kentucky and descendants of Kentucky pioneer stock. James E. Bennett's parents moved to Bates County from Benton County, Missouri in 1856, when James was six years of age. They first settled in Benton County and after remaining a short time there went to the western part of Bates County and settled on a farm not farm from the Kansas State line. This section was in the heart of the Border War district. When the Civil War broke out the father joined the cause of Confederacy, serving under General Price. A few months after the outbreat of the war he returned to his Bates County home and removed his family to Henry County on what is known as the Lafe Cruse place, near where Cook's old mill stood on the Grand River. About a year later the family went to Pettis county. After the war the father bought a place in Pettis county on Flat Creek. Here he followed farming, meeting with a fair degree of success until his death. The mother survived him eight years. Both died on the old home place on Flat creek in Pettis County. James E. Bennett was one of a family of eleven children, ten of whom are now living: W. T., Orange California; G. L., Green Ridge, Missouri; James E., the subject of this sketch; H. L. Spokane, Washington; Susan, married Milton Durrell, lonia, Missouri; Martha J., married May Field, who is now deceased and she resides at Hot Springs, Arkansas; Walter L., Rockville, Missouri; Lillie, married Philip Snovall, a member of the board of county judges at Benton County, and resides at lonia, Missouri; John M., Brownington, Missouri; and Ed A., who resides on the old home place in Pettis County. Of the ten members of this family, the youngest is fifty-one years of age and the oldest about seventy-two. The boyhood days of James E. Bennett were spent amidst the scenes and hardships of the Border and Civil Wars, and he has a distinct recollection of many of the tragedies of that time. He witnessed a number of minor engagements between the contending factions and many of the events of those times left an indelible impression on his mind. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the schools which the early times afforded and began life as a farmer in the vicinity of Windsor, Missouri. About 1880 he was elected marshal of Windsor, serving in that capacity for six years, and during that time he also held the office as constable. He was then appointed deputy sheriff of Henry County under Sheriff W. J. Ellison, and had charge of the county jail during the latter part of Sheriff Ellison's administration. Sheriff Ellison was succeeded by Sheriff James H. Calloway, and Mr. Bennett was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Calloway, continuing to have charge of the jail for four years more. He was then elected sheriff of Henry County, and at the expiration of his first term, was re-elected and served for four years. In going out of the office of sheriff, Mr. Bennett left a record as one of the capable and conscientious officers of Henry County. At the close of his official career, Mr. Bennett bought a farm, near Windsor, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising about eight years. In 1904 he came to Clinton and since that time has been engaged in buying and selling horses and mules, and he is one of the extensive dealers in that line in this section of the State. On June 17, 1873, James E. Bennett was united in marriage with Miss Catherine I. Hines, a daughter of Brantley and Elizabeth (Douglas) Hines. The father was a soldier in the Confederate Army and when the war ended he was in Texas in the service of the "lost cause." After the close of the war and while on his way home, on a transport on the Red River, the boat sank on account of overloading and he was drowned. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have been born four children, as follows: Mary Myrtle (oldest), married Charles Gray, and is now deceased; Walter, supervisor of the State Hospital at Nevada, Missouri; Wallace, who is engaged in the transfer business at Long Beach, California; Edwin, associated with his father in business in Clinton. Mr. Bennett has been identified with the Democratic party since boyhood, and it may be truly said of him that he is a staunch Democrat. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workman and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a public spirited and progressive citizen and there are few, if any, men in Henry County who have more friends than "Jim" Bennett. ==================================================================== BENNETT, John M. - b: 1855 Benton Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 817 residence: Osage Twp John M. Bennett, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Osage township, was born December 27, 1855, in Benton County, Missouri, the son of John and Martha (Ham) Bennett. John Bennett, Sr., was born 1820 in Logan County, Kentucky, where with his parents he shared the pioneer hardships and experiences. In 1856 he moved to West Point, Bates County, and engaged in farming. While conducting his peaceful occupation of tilling the soil until the Civil War broke out. Mr. Bennett joined the Confederate Army, enlisting at West Point, Missouri, in Raines' Division of Price's Army. Four years of warfare brought many experiences to the men who fought under starry skies and the bright glaring sun, but soon, the dove of peace bad again spread her wings over our nation and the boys in blue and grey resumed their peaceful occupations. Mr. John Bennett, Sr., and Martha Ham were married and ten children were born to their union, all of whom are living. They are as follows: William F., residing at Orange, California; Green L., a merchant of Green Ridge, Missouri; James E., ex-sheriff of Henry County, now living at Clinton, Missouri; Susan, the wife of Judge Milton Rurrell of Pettis County, Missouri; John M., subject of this sketch; Martha J., wife of Robert Mayfield of Little Rock, Arkansas; Mrs. Lillie Schnabel, judge of Benton County Court; Harrison, Spokane, Washington; Walter L., Rockville, Missouri; Edward, operating the home farm in Pettis County, Missouri. In 1830, when the Ham family moved from Franklin, Howard County, the Indians were still among his native haunts and resented the coming of the white man upon his hunting grounds. Mr. Ham located near Windsor and for many years worked hard to reclaim the virgin soil to civilized fertility. His daughter, Martha (Ham) Bennett, was born in 1822 in Howard County and died in 1906. Her husband had been laid to rest in 1883. John M. Bennett, the subject of this sketch, received his education in Pettis County and until 1901, he followed farming pursuits in that county. In 1901 he came to Henry County and purchased the present farm and has successfully conducted his business here since then. He owns 342 acres of land and raises cattle and sheep, as well as carrying on general farming. March 15, 1863, John Bennett and Willie S. Hines were united in marriage. They are the parents of five children, as follows: Virgil, a soldier in the National Army now at Camp Funston; James R., Jewel Ruby, Grace, and Naomi, who continue to make their home with their parents. Mrs. Bennett was the daughter of Brantley and Margaret (Douglas) Hines. Brantley Hines was a member of the Confederate Army and upon returning to his home was drowned as the boat "Kentucky," sank in the Red River. Mrs. Hines lived to a good old age and is now laid to rest in the Windsor Cemetery. Mr. Bennett and his son Virgil are members of the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Bennett affiliates with the Royal Neighbors, also a member of the Christian Church. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================