Lemuel H. Henry

HENRY, BENNETT

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/7/2010 at 13:00:54

Among the leaders in financial circles in Sioux City is Lemuel H. Henry, vice president and chairman of the board of directors of the First National Bank, and a man who has staunchly supported every enterprise or movement for the upbuilding of Sioux City. He was born at Vernon, Van Buren county, Iowa, on the 9th of May, 1871, and is a son of Thomas P. And Jennie M. (Bennett) Henry. The former was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, and was there reared and received a public school education. At the opening of the Civil war, he responded to the president's call for troops, enlisting from Van Buren county, on May 27, 1861, and was mustered into service at Keokuk, Iowa, as a private in Company F, Second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain J. M. Tuttle, to serve three years or during the war. The regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee. He participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, February 14-16, 1862, Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862, and Corinth, Mississippi, October 3-4, 1862, there sustaining a shell would. He also received a gunshot would at the battle of Fort Donelson. He was honorably discharged at Pulaski, Tennessee, December 31, 1863, but re-enlisted on January 1, 1864, as a private and veteran in the same company and regiment. He took part in teh siege of Atlanta, Georgia, and in Sherman's march to the sea. He was promoted to sergeant in December, 1864, at Savannah, Georgia, and was again honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 1, 1865, at the close of the war. At the time of his death he was a member of Elias M. Wore Post, No, 516, Grand Army of the Republic, but had previously been a charter member of Shriver Post, No. 177, at Vernon, Iowa, which he had served as commander. On February 16, 1870, he was married to Miss Jennie M. Bennett, who also was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, and whose parents, Samuel M. And Sarah M. (Whitson) Bennett, were early settlers of this state, her father coming from Ohio and her mother from Pennsylvania. They were both of Quaker descent. Mrs. Henry's oldest brother, Lemuel W. Bennett, was killed at the age of seventeen years in the Civil war, while serving with the Eight Regiment Iowa Cavalry, and her youngest brother, Corwin N. Bennett, died at the close of the Spanish-American war, after serving in the Fiftieth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The death of Thomas P. Henry occurred in 1900, and his widow then made her home with her son, Lemuel H., until her death, which occurred February 2, 1925.

Lemuel H. Henry secured his education in the public schools of his native county and in a business college at Burlington, Iowa. During vacations and after leaving school he followed farming until eighteen years of age, when he decided to start on a business career. His first job was as timekeeper for the Phillips Fuel Company, of Ottumwa, Iowa, at their mines near that city, where he remained three months. He then accepted a position as messenger in the Ottumwa National Bank, remaining there two years. He then went to Burlington, Iowa, where he became associated with a fire insurance company, first as bookkeeper, and later as treasurer. In January, 1899, the company removed to Sioux City, and in 1901 Mr. Henry entered the Iowa State National Bank, which institution later absorbed the First National Bank, using the latter name. Mr. Henry was made cashier of this bank in 1906, holding that position until 1915, when he was elected vice president, and in 1924 was made chairman of the board of directors, which positions he still retains.

Politically, Mr. Henry is an ardent supporter of the republican party and takes a deep interest in public affairs but has never sought office of any nature. He is a member of Tryian Lodge, No. 508, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Abu-Bekr Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Sioux City Lodge, No. 112, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Association of Reserve City Bankers, the Sioux City Country Club and the Kiwanis Club. He is actively interested in civic affairs and throughout the range of his acquaintance is held in the highest measure of confidence and esteem.

Contributed by: Debbie Clough Gerischer. Source: Northwestern Iowa, Its History and Tradition, Volume II, 1804-1926.