Benjamin L. Bennett Biography


	This biography appears on page 707 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				BENJAMIN L. BENNETT. 

	Benjamin L. Bennett, a stockman residing near Oelrichs, Fall 
River county, was born in Holt county, Nebraska, in the vicinity of 
Ewing, on the 17th of October, 1884, a son of James and Sarah 
(Richardson) Bennett. The father is a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, 
and the mother was also born in that state. The father was for a number 
of years a ranchman in Nebraska but is now a merchant of Clearwater, 
that state, where he is well known and sincerely respected. His wife is 
also living. 

	Benjamin L. Bennett is the second in a family of five children 
and his education was acquired in the public schools of Neligh, 
Nebraska. After putting aside his textbooks, when about eighteen years 
of age, he was a professional ball player for about three years. At the 
end of that time he removed to fall River county, South Dakota, and 
took up a homestead near Oelrichs, upon which he has since resided. He 
devotes his attention chiefly to the stock business and raises both 
cattle and horses He understands the business thoroughly and derives a 
good income from his activities along that line. 

	On the 31st of October, 1912, Mr. Bennett married Miss Nellie 
Victoria Smithson, a native of Lead, South Dakota, and a daughter of 
William W. and Hannah (Thompson) Smithson. The birth of the father 
occurred in New Jersey and that of the mother in Denmark. In 1876 Mr. 
Smithson removed to the Black Hills and located at Rochford, where he 
mined for some time. His property was subsequently taken over by the 
Homestake Mining Company and he turned his attention to other pursuits. 
He was for four years auditor of Fall River county, for four years 
register of deeds and for two years held the office of postmaster of 
Oelrichs. He is now living retired at that city. He has a military 
record of which he has every reason to be proud, as he became captain 
of a company of New York Volunteer Infantry, winning promotion from the 
ranks by his loyalty and courage. He served throughout the war and 
never faltered in the performance of any duty, no matter how dangerous 
it might be. He has been twice married and had one child by his first 
union. Mrs. Bennett is the younger of the two children born to his 
second marriage and her mother is also living. 

	Mr. Bennett is a republican in his political belief and takes a 
keen interest in everything relating to the public welfare, although he 
has never been a seeker for official preferment. He is an enterprising 
and progressive stockman and is meeting with gratifying success in his 
chosen occupation His wife is a woman of more than usual business 
ability and is at present assistant cashier of the State Bank of 
Oelrichs. Both are highly esteemed in their community and have many 
warm personal friends.