Claude A. Bennett Biography


	This biography appears on pages 640-641 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CLAUDE A. BENNETT.  

	Claude A. Bennett, judge of the county court of Stanley county, 
who since 1908 has been an active representative of the South Dakota 
bar, was born on the 18th of April, 1882, six miles west of the city of 
Canton, in this state, his parents being Millard and Mary Bennett, who 
settled on a homestead in Lincoln county in 1874. The father was a 
native of New York born of English parentage and the mother a native of 
Illinois and of Welsh descent. Both are residents of Canton at the 
present time. They were pioneers in the development of the great west, 
recognizing its possibilities and aiding in the work of reclaiming the 
broad acres for the purposes of cultivation and improvement.  

	Judge Bennett mastered the elementary branches of learning and 
qualified for entrance into the Canton high school from which he was 
graduated in 1898. He subsequently became a student in the Yankton 
College from which he won the Bachelor of Science degree upon 
graduation with the class of 1904. Subsequently he became a student in 
Chicago University, completing the course there in 1907 and in 1913 
Yankton College conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. He 
closely applied himself to his law studies and his careful preparation 
has constituted the foundation of his success at the bar. He settled at 
Philip, South Dakota, on the 11th of May, 1908, and there entered upon 
the active practice of law, winning a large clientage that connected 
him with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of his 
district. His ability in handling intricate and involved legal problems 
led to his selection for the office of county judge of Stanley county 
and following his election he removed to Fort Pierre on the 1st of 
January, 1913. He is now upon the bench and his decisions are strictly 
fair and impartial, being based upon a comprehensive knowledge of the 
law and the equity of the case.  

	On the 28th of August, 1912, at McLaughlin, South Dakota, Mr. 
Bennett was united in marriage to Miss Irene M. Harris, who is a 
daughter of Mrs. Anna Harris of McLaughlin, and who was born in Beadle 
county, South Dakota, in 1885. Judge and Mrs. Bennett attend the 
Congregational church in which she holds membership and he belongs to 
the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Philip Lodge, No. 153, A. 
F. & A. M.; Pierre Chapter No. 22, R. A. M.; and Capital Commandery, 
No. 21, K. T. He has always been an earnest republican in his political 
views, believing firmly in party principles, yet he has never allowed 
partisanship to interfere with the faithful performance of his judicial 
duties.