Alden J. Bennett History of Montana, 1898 US Genweb Montana Archives Among the prominent early settlers of Virginia City and most highly reliable businessmen we find the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He has long been connected with, and is now the manager of the Hall and Bennett Bank. Mr. Bennett is a native of New York, born in Delaware County, June 25, 1847. His ancestor, Robert Bennett, emigrated from England to Rhode Island in 1630 and was a resident of Newport in 1639. On the other side of the family the ancestry can be traced in a direct to George Soule, who landed from the Mayflower in 1620 and Anna (Becket) Soule who landed from the Ann three years later. They became the parents of one of the influential families of early times. One representative of the family fought in King Phillip's war and other distinguished themselves in the Colonial Army during the Revolution. The Bennett line of ancestry is as follows: 1st, Robert who died at Newport, Rhode Island, about 1690, 2nd, Robert who died at Portsmouth, same State in 1722, 3rd, Robert who died at Tiverton, that State in 1746, 4th John who died at Dartmouth, Massachusetts in 1769; 5th Alden who was captain of a vessel and died at sea in 1798 (vessel, crew and cargo lost); 6th Isaac who died at Harpersfield, New York in 1812, 7th, Phineas I., who died at York Pennsylvania in 1892 and 8th Alden J. His great grandfather, Isaac Bennett, was born in Dutchess County New York, June 22, 1780, married March 6, 1803 to Anna Losee and both were members of the Society of Friends. Immediately after their marriage they removed to the wilderness of Delaware County where they were among the pioneers. They had five children, of whom Phineas Lounsbury Bennett was the second. He was born in Harpersfield, New York, February 15, 1806 and died at York, Pennsylvania February 5, 1892. He married December 23, 1840, Minerva Hakes (daughter of Judge Lyman Hakes of Delaware County NY) who survives. Phineas L. and Minerva had four children: Mrs. Frances Dennis, widow of Hon. Rodney Dennis at Hornellsville, NY; Lyman Hakes Bennett, an attorney of Wilkes Barre, Pa; Isaac Bennett, a merchant of York Pennsylvania; and Alden Joseph Bennett. After receiving an education as a civil engineer in his native State, Alden J. Bennett came to the west and was employed in the engineering department of the Union Pacific Railroad until the completion of its line. He then went to White Pine, Nevada and was engaged in milling and mining until 1870. That year he came to Virginia City. Here he became identified with the educational affairs of the county, teaching school for some years and also serving as County Superintendent of Schools. In 1876 he accepted the position of bookkeeper in Henry Elling's Bank. This position he filled three years. In 1879 the banking firm of Raymond, Harrington and Company was formed and Mr. Bennett became a member of the company, serving as manger of the company until November 1889. At that time the company was re-organized under the firm name of Hall and Bennett and he has since continued to serve as the active manager of the bank. On the 28th of February 1892, Mr. Amos C. Hall, the senior member of the firm died, and the name of the firm did not change. On the first of November 1878 Mr. Bennett was married to Miss Mary Prout, daughter of Rev. Henry Hedges Prout, an Episcopal minister. He was a missionary in North Carolina and she was born there. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have three children-Minerva Maria, Henry Phineas and Lyman Hakes. USGenWeb Project 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 forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.