Joseph Clark (J. C.) Bennett 1836-1918

BENNETT, TOWLE, RIDLER, AUSTIN, DOWNING

Posted By: Dorothy (email)
Date: 5/10/2010 at 15:13:32

Joseph Clark Bennett was born in Louden
Village, N. H., December 3rd, 1836. At
twenty years of age, he came to Iowa. The
first winter here, he conducted the first
school ever taught in Oran township, the
first of seventeen terms.
Two years later, he returned to N. H.
where he was married to Cynthia L. Towle.
In 1882 they moved to Iowa and located near
Otsego, where he farmed summers and taught
school winters.
Six children were born, two dying in
infancy; T. C. of Oran, Mrs. Nettie Ridler,
deceased, I. P. of Oelwein and Mrs. Lillie
Austin of Billings, Oklahoma. He had eleven
grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
The mother was called away in 1900.
August 1913, he was married to Mrs. Lizzie
Downing, who survives him. The deceased is
the last of his fathers house. He once farmed
in the very same home site where he passed
away March 28, 1918. He was one of the first
voters to cast ballot in the old Oelwein log
house now standing.
The last service was held Saturday and
the pall bearers were his former pupils of
forty and fifty years ago.

Oelwein Daily Register - 3 April 1918