J.W. Lenning
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

J.W. Lenning, principal of the Benton High School, 
Fort Benton, Montana is a worthy representative of 
his high calling.  Mr. Lenning was born in Burlington 
Indiana on the 5th of August 1872.  He was the son of 
D.A. Lenning, who was a native of Kentucky, removing 
to Indiana, after he had reached manhood.  He is still 
living having reached the age of seventy-two and is 
still engaged in active life, being superintendent of 
mines.  He married Philonia Kidd, who was a native of 
Indiana, the marriage taking place in that state.  She 
died in 1900, at the age of forty two and is buried in 
the state in which she was born.  Three sons were born 
to this couple, of whom J.W. is the eldest.

Mr. Lenning was educated in the schools in his hometown 
and when he advanced beyond their curriculum he was sent 
to the Indian State Normal.  Since taking up teaching he 
has never ceased to be a student and since coming to 
Montana has attended the Montana State Normal and the 
Montana State University from which he was graduated in 
1901.  He has also taken a post-graduate course at the 
University of California, at Berkeley.  Mr. Lenning had 
his first experience in teaching in the schools of 
Woodside, Indiana.  He then determined that the West 
offered the best opportunities in his profession so 
he came to Montana and taught school in White Sulphur 
Springs for a time.  Upon leaving this place he went 
to Marysville and later came to Fort Benton.  He was 
made superintendent of the Fort Benton schools in 
1904 and has held the position up to the present time.  
He has made a most efficient executive, and has 
accomplished much for the schools. He has also won 
popularity both from the children and from their 
parents. This is a bit unusual but is due to the 
fact that while Mr. Lenning has the characteristics 
that enforce respect when respect is necessary he 
also has a delightful sociability and is the master 
only during school hours.

Mr. Lenning is unmarried.  He has been able to save 
enough to invest in a very fine ranch in Chouteau 
County and has been able to indulge his fondness 
for outdoor life on his own property.  He is fond 
of most sports, and attributes his health to the 
fact that he spends as much of his spare time as 
possible in the open air.

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