Allegheny County PA Archives Photos.....Bennett, WIlliam  1845 - 1914
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Gail O'Neill growtreez@custertel.net January 11, 2009, 1:36 am

Author: Northwestern History Assoc. 1906

This is from a book called Memoirs of Allegheny County Vol 2 page 108-109.

Additional Comments:
R.G. Putnam & Sons 1906 publisher

The photo of William Bennett from this article can be viewed at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/photos/bennett-william.jpg

MEMOIRS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

  WILLIAM BENNETT, chief of Braddock police, is a son of Elisha C. 
and Letetia (McFarland) Bennett, the former an Englishman, who 
married Miss McFarland in Ireland and came to America in the 
early forties.  Elisha Bennett served in the Mexican war, and on 
the advent of the Civil war enlisted in the 19th regulars.  
Five of his sons also fought in the war.  William Bennett, 
the subject of this article, was born in Allegheny City, Pa., 
Oct. 13, 1845.  He attended the public schools and in early 
youth commenced working in the Pittsburg glass factory, where 
he remained about two years, and also in other places until 
the outbreak of the Civil war.  On Sept. 24, 1861, he enlisted 
in Company E, 54th Pennsylvania volunteers, where he served 
three years, and then re-enlisted and served until the close 
of the war.  During this time he fought in the battles of New 
Market, on the Shenandoah, Piedmont, Lexington, Lynchburg, 
Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek, Fort Gregg, in front 
of Petersburg, and at High Bridge, Va.  At High Bridge, April 9, 
1865, he was taken prisoner with his command, but on the fall 
of Appomattox and Lee’s surrender three days afterwards, he was 
released.  Returning to civil life, Mr. Bennett was married, July 
3, 1865, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Hamel) 
Critchlow, both parents being descended from pioneer families of 
that section.  After marriage he was employed at the Cambria iron 
works at Johnstown, Pa., until 1873, and worked in the Michigan 
forests until September, 1876.  Returning to Braddock, he accepted 
a position in the Edgar Thompson steel works, where he remained 
until the strike of 1888.  March 1, 1890, he became a patrolman 
on the Braddock police force, and on April 15, 1894, was promoted 
to the position of chief, in which position he has materially improved 
the moral tone and working qualities of the force by his executive 
ability and unassuming Christian conduct.  To Chief Bennett and wife 
have been born thirteen children.  Earl was drowned when eighteen 
months old, and Sadie died of scarlet fever at about the same age.  
Stephen M. and Daniel were both killed at the blast furnace in early 
manhood.  Of the boys, William J. has been for nine years constable 
in the third ward; Joseph is roller in a wire mill; Albert is a 
mechanic in the steel works, and Herbert a machinist in the car 
barns of the Pittsburg electric railway.  Of the girls, Lizzie is 
the wife of Thomas Hunter, a machinist of Braddock; Anna is the 
wife of William Rothrauff, a Braddock policeman; Jessie is married 
to John Lowers, assistant postmaster of the city, and Pearl and 
May are at home.  In national politics Mr. Bennett is a republican.  
He is a member of Camp No. 1, Union Veteran Legion, of Pittsburg, 
and Major Harper post No. 181, G.A.R.  He and his wife and three 
daughters are members of the First Baptist Church at Braddock.


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