Bentley, Wright

BENTLEY, BURNHAM, WOOLCOTT, BRICKER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/17/2003 at 02:04:48

PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA 1886 (CHAPMAN BROS.)  Containing full page portraits & biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. (Also available on FHL film 1036331 Item 9)
WRIGHT BENTLEY
A pioneer of Jackson County, but now a resident on section 13, Brookfield Township, was born in Queensbury, Warren Co., N. Y., Nov. 28, 1833. His father, David Bentley, was born in the same town, and his grandfather was an early settler in Warren County, in which he cleared a farm and spent the last days of his life. Our subject’s father was reared on this farm, and after he had grown to manhood he operated a carding-mill and also conducted a sawmill. In 1841 he sold out and started for the Territory of Iowa, accompanied by his wife and four children, together with three neighboring families. The entire journey was made overland with hired teams. They brought with them cooking utensils and made themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit. The were six weeks and five day on the road, at the expiration of which time they landed at Wright’s Corners. At that time there was but one house in Maquoketa, and that was built of logs. The father of this family pre-empted 360 acres in Maquoketa Township, which was the nearest depot for supplies and was their market at that time. He improved the farm and lived on the place to which he had emigrated until a few years ago. He now resides on section 2, Brookfield Township. The maiden name of his wife was Lorinda Burnham, who was also a native a native of Warren County, N. Y.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bentley, Sr., of whom Wright was the eldest. He was eight years of age when he came to Ioaw and attended the pioneer schools, gaining what education his opportunities would allow. He also assisted his father on the farm and remained under the parental roof until he grew to manhood. In 1856 he bought a tract of wild land in Bloomfield Township, and while living at home made the first improvements on it. At the time of his marriage he settled there and resided till 1882, when he sold and bought the place that he occupies at the present writing. The farm is supplied with good frame buildings, is highly cultivated, well stocked, and may be considered an estate of which anyone might be proud of.
He was married in January, 1861, to Miss M. J. Woolcott. She was born in De Witt, Clinton Co., Iowa. The children by his first wife are Williard, Lillian, Viola and Melvina; the two latter are deceased. Mr. Bentley’s second wife was Isabella M. Bricker, the daughter of Frederick Bricker. Their marriage took place July 6, 1873. Their children are Leola, born Jan. 31, 1875; Malverna, born Sept. 7, 1878, and Luella, born July 26, 1881. Mr. Bentley is one of Clinton County’s most enterprising and successful agriculturists, and his energy and perseverance, together with his good common sense, win for him a high place in the respect and esteem of her citizens, both old and young.