Biography of William Bennett, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Bennett, Bird, Berry, Watters

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - November 2001
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page An Illustrated History of
Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902 by Western Historical
Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 372

William Bennett
Senior member of the firm of Bennett & Sons, leading lumber merchants and
manufacturers of Baker county.

Mr. Bennett is the son of Joel and Sarah (Bird) Bennett, natives of New York
and England respectively, and he was born at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in
1829. He passed his minority in his native place, staying with his parents and
receiving a good education in the public schools and Dickson Seminary. In 1860
he started to Pike's Peak, being led thither by the gold excitement at that
time. For four years he mined in that vicinity and then went to Montana, on
Alder creek, and engaged in freighting to Fort Benton until 1870, when he
returned to Pennsylvania and started a sawmill in Sullivan county. For a
number of years he followed this occupation and then removed his plant to
Klickitat county, Washington, and later to White Salmon. At this last point he
added a planing mill, and two years later, in 1886, he removed the whole plant
to Baker City, establishing the planing mill in the city and locating his
sawmill nine miles out. He has since added another mill thirteen miles south
of Baker City, and the combined capacity of his plants is one million feet of
lumber for one year. He has always found time to take up the questions of
political import and local significance, as well as matters of educational
interest, ever manifesting his characteristic wisdom and keen foresight.
Several times he has been before the conventions, but his preference is not
for political preferment of any kind, and hence he has retired in favor of
others.

Mr. Bennett and Miss Elizabeth Berry were married in Pennsylvania in 1856, but
on February 14, 1868, Mrs. Bennett was called to pass the river of death, and
her remains are buried in the cemetery at Hughsville, Pennsylvania. To this
union were born the following children: Milliard F.; Bion, died September,
1898; Thomas E.; Eugene; Elizabeth.

Mr. Bennett contracted a second marriage in 1871, the lady of his choice being
Miss Mary J. Watters, a native of Pennsylvania. To them have been born the
following children: Cora, Callie; Stella; Mary and Martha, twins; infant,
deceased; infant, deceased; and Malcolm.

Mr. Bennett not only deals in lumber and all kinds of planing mill products
but also handles implements and is sole agent for the well-known Fish
Brothers' wagon.