BIO:  Maj. H. S. BENNER, Gettysburg, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 350

MAJ. H. S. BENNER, postmaster, Gettysburg, was born in Straban Township, Adams 
Co., Penn., October 1, 1830, son of Christian and Susan (Snyder) Benner, 
natives of Adams County and of German extraction.  Christian Benner, grandfather 
of the Major, was among the pioneers of this section of that State, having come 
to Adams County in 1752.  He was a farmer by occupation.  The Major’s father was 
also a farmer, and his children were four in number, of whom our subject is the 
eldest.  Maj. Benner received a fair education in the schools of his 
neighborhood and in those of Gettysburg.  He learned the trade of granite 
cutting, which he followed for ten years, after which he was employed as a 
railroad agent until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he promptly 
enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and First Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry, and was commissioned first lieutenant.  He served out the full term of 
his enlistment, and February 5, 1863, re-enlisted in the same company and 
regiment; was promoted to the captaincy of the company, and soon after became 
major of the regiment, and as such served until the close of the war in 1865.  
The Major was taken prisoner April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C., and remained a 
prisoner of war ten months.  He was twice wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks.  
In 1868 he was elected teller of the Gettysburg National Bank, and served until 
1872 (five years).  In 1885 he was appointed postmaster of Gettysburg.  
Politically he is a Democrat.  In 1870 he was married to Sophia A., daughter of 
Israel Yount.  Our subject and wife are both identified with the Lutheran 
Church.