BENT, Peter

BENT, COTRELL

Posted By: Administrator
Date: 10/2/2001 at 20:08:42

From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879) Pages 669-697
Biographical Sketches of Clinton Residents

PETER BENT, proprietor of the Iowa Central House; is a native of Lewis Co., N. Y., where he was brought up and received his education; with his father, he was engaged in manufacturing cheese; they operated three large factories in Lewis and St. Lawrence Cos., taking the mile from 500 to 1,000 cows at each factory; they carried on the business more estensively than any firm in Northern New York; during the winter season, they were engaged in dealing furs. Mr. Bent came to Iowa in 1869, and located in Clarence, Cedar Co., and engaged in banking; established the house of Bent & Cotrell; he continued in the business with Mr. Cotrell until recently; in 1876, they came in possession of the Iowa Central House, and it became necessary for Mr. Bent to come here in the interest of their investment; he has remained here since then, still retaining interest in the bank until June of the present year, when he retired from the firm, and became sole owner of the Iowa Central House, the largest hotel in this section of the State. Mr. Bent married Miss Nancy M. Cotrell, a native of Lewis Co., N. Y.; they have one son -- Byron D.; he is in a bank in Cedar Rapids.