Taylor County, West Virginia Biography of Frank BENNETT ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , March 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 95 FRANK BENNETT has been one of the most popular residents of Grafton for many years, and is former county assessor and now county court clerk of Taylor County, and prior to that had charge of the city electric light plant. He was born in Clinton District, Monongalia County, June 1, 1873, son of William and Mary (Jacobs) Bennett. William Bennett was born at Sheffield, England, where his father was a brick-maker, and came to the United States at the age of six- teen his parents locating at Birmingham, Pennsylvania, but eventually removing to West Virginia, and they are buried in the Simmers Cemetery in Monongalia County. Their chil- dren besides William were: Timothy, a resident of Morgan- town; Albert, deceased, a Monongalia County farmer, whose daughter is the wife of Governor Ephraim F. Morgan; Ann, who died in Pittsburgh, wife of Abraham Kay; and Sarah Ann, who married Elijah Jacobs and is living at the Flats, near Morgantown, nearly one hundred years old. William Bennett also learned the trade of brick-maker, which he followed until he took up farming as his regular vocation. He had a good education and remained a student the rest of his life, and was noted in his community for his ability to sustain an argument on a wide variety of topics. He was a republican, and he and his wife were devout in their religious duties and saw to it that their children always attended church and Sunday School. William Bennett died in 1903, when almost eighty, and his wife died five years later, also in her eightieth year. Their children were: Mrs. Priscilla Gwyn, deceased; Annarrie, wife of W. H. Gwyn, living near the old Bennett home in Monongalia County; Nelia, un- married and at the old homestead; Joseph, operator of the home farm; and Frank. Frank Bennett grew up on the farm in Monongalia County, and completed his common school education there. For one year he farmed for himself, and soon after his marriage took his bride to Grafton, where he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio in the carpenter shops, building engine cabs. Five years of his career were given to that line of work. Following this he was put in charge of the electric light service for the City of Grafton. He handled this department with a rare degree of skill and tact, and through all the fourteen years he never missed a payday through absence from duty. At the same time he was a sub-mail carrier for the city post office. Having been a resident of Grafton almost twenty years, and having gained a wide acquaintance throughout the coun- ty, he consented to put his name and qualifications before the people as candidate for county assessor. He was nominated in the primaries, and in the fall of 1916 ran ahead of his party ticket, making a record vote for a single candidate. He served his four-year term, and then became candidate for county clerk, being elected by a majority of 2,018 votes over his democratic competitor. He succeeded C. T. Bartlett in office, and began his official term in January, 1921. Mr. Bennett is an active member of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce. He is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. He is one of the trustees and deacons of the Grafton Baptist Church. In Marion County, June 14, 1896, Mr. Bennett married Miss Etta Summers, who was born near Mt. Nebo in that county and reared on the farm there. Her parents, David and Frances (Shuttlesworth) Summers, were reared in the same county. She was a child when her father was killed by the kick of a horse. Her mother is still living at the old home- stead. Besides Mrs. Bennett the surviving children are: James, of Fairmont; Emma, wife of David Downey, of Pitts- burgh; Luther, on the home farm; Camden, of Fairmont; Albertus, a farmer at Gladesville, Preston County; William, who died in Marion County, leaving a family; and Ollie, who died in Grafton, the wife of William G. Lake. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett the oldest is Ethel, wife of Clarence D. Arnett, of Fairmont. Robert is chief clerk for the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company of Fetterman. Lauda is the wife of Coy H. Hardman, of Fairmont. Dottie and Sarah Olive are students in high school at Grafton, while the younger children are named Roger Gordon, Charles Edward and Marjorie.