MONROE BENTLEY - Biography

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Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 716-718

MONROE BENTLEY enjoys the distinction of being the oldest attorney in Baraboo 
[Sauk County, WI], measured in years of continuous practice. He is a native 
of NY, born at Binghamton [Broome County], 09 Apr 1836, to Ephraim and 
Philena (TINKELPAUGH) BENTLEY. The family has always been distinguished for 
devotion to patriotic sentiments, an early example being that of the paternal 
grandfather, who was killed at the battle of Plattsburg during the war of 
1812. He was a native of New England, but his wife, Johanna, was of 
Pennsylvania Dutch descent. She attained the age of over 80 years, expiring 
at Carbondale [Lackawanna County], PA.

Ephraim BENTLEY was born 03 Sep 1812, at Carbondale [Lackawanna County], PA, 
where his youth was spent. Soon after his marriage he removed to Binghamton 
[Broome County], NY, and, a few years later, to Sodus Bay, Wayne County. He 
subsequently lived at Williamson Corners, in the same county and state, 
following his trade of shoemaking in each of these places. In 1848 he 
removed to La Grange County, IN, and, eight years later, to Poynette 
[Columbia County], WI, where he purchased 40 acres of land and engaged in 
farming to some extent, also carrying on his trade. In 1862 he enlisted as a 
recruit in Company G, 2nd WI Infantry, but after serving one year he was 
discharged owing to disability caused by rheumatism. Having recovered his 
health, in Jan 1864 he re-enlisted as a recruit in the 23rd WI Volunteer 
Infantry. He took part in General Bank's expedition up the Red River, and 
while at [p 717] Franklin, LA, was attacked with bloody dysentery and sent to 
the hospital at New Orleans, where his death ensued 31 Mar 1864. He was a 
man of ready decision and pronounced convictions. Politically he was for 
many years an ardent Whig and Abolitionist. While living in LaGrange County, 
IN, he was a neighbor and coadjutor of the famous A. B. WATERHOUSE. A line 
of the "underground railroad" passed through that county and one of the 
principal stations was in the basement of Mr. WATERHOUSE's barn. On several 
different occasions Mr. BENTLEY took his team at night and drove loads of 
colored refugees from this station to Sturgis Prairie [St. Joseph County], 
MI, where they took the train for Detroit and thence were assisted across 
into Canada.

Mrs. Philena BENTLEY died at Poynette [Columbia County], WI, 08 Mar 1864, at 
the age of 47 years. She was born at Carbondale [Lackawanna County], PA. 
Her father, Peter TINKELPAUGH, was of German lineage and became a prominent 
farmer of Milford, IN. His wife, Mrs. Mary TINKELPAUGH, died at Ontario 
[LaGrange County], IN, at the age of 69 years.

Monroe BENTLEY graduated from La Grange Collegiate Institute, at Ontario, IN, 
in 1853. Coming with his parents to this state a few years later, he was 
engaged in lumbering on the Wisconsin River for several seasons. He 
subsequently learned the carpenter trade and also taught for ten winters in 
the vicinity of Poynette. In 1865 he removed to Baraboo [Sauk County, WI] 
and began to study law with C. C. REMINGTON, though he was not admitted to 
practice until 1878. In the meantime he served two years as chairman of the 
township board of supervisors and ten years as justice of the peace in the 
village of Baraboo, doing most of the business in that line. For more than a 
score of years he has been engaged in general practice, in addition to which 
he does more or less insurance business. His professional duties have 
frequently brought him before the supreme court of WI and among other 
important cases he has handled may be mentioned the celebrated one of the 
State of WI vs. W. A. BLACKMAN, which was tried at Portage [Columbia County], 
WI, in 1889. Since 1893 his son, F. R. BENTLEY, has been his partner. Like 
his progenitors, Mr. BENTLEY responded to the call of his country for aid in 
the way of military service, enlisting in the fall of 1863 in Company K, 10th 
NY Heavy Artillery. During his eight months of service he was stationed at 
Fort Carroll on the Potomac River, suffering much with chronic diarrhea.

He was married 16 Nov 1858 to Susan A. BOOTH, daughter of Calvin L. and Julia 
A. BOOTH, of Poynette [Columbia County], WI. This lady, who was born near 
Cattaraugus [Cattaraugus County], NY, died of consumption at Baraboo [Sauk 
County, WI], 27 Aug 1869. She left four children: (1) Charles D., a 
Baptist minister of Fredericksburg [Chickasaw County], IA; (2) Alice R., 
Mrs. John GRAFF, of Cresco [Howard County], IA; (3) Frank R., a well-known 
attorney of Baraboo [Sauk County, WI]; and (4) Carrie A., Mrs. Charles 
LAMBERTON, of Baraboo. Mr. BENTLEY was again married, 18 Apr 1871, to Mrs. 
Jennie JENKS, daughter of J. G. COWLES, of Baraboo, WI. She was born near 
Ashtabula [Ashtabula County], OH, and is the mother of one son, Ernest R. 
BENTLEY, a telegraph operator at Madison [Dane County], WI.

Mr. BENTLEY has long been identified with the Methodist church of Baraboo, 
and has served for 18 years as trustee, steward and chorister. He has 
likewise been superintendent of the Sabbath school for many years. He is a 
member of the American Protective Association and discharges all his public 
duties in a thorough and conscientious manner. A Prohibitionist in 
principle, he supports worthy men for local [p 718] positions of trust 
irrespective of party fealty. He has never used tobacco nor intoxicating 
liquors in any form and has led a consistent exemplary life, worthy the 
emulation of rising generations.