BENNETT, Willis Lugene 1858-1924

BENNETT, DABBITT, BABBITT, SMITH, GILBERT, COBB

Posted By: Richard K Thompson (email)
Date: 10/25/2009 at 09:42:55

Added by Admin, July 2020 --

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, March 29, 1924
Page Eight, Column 1

JUST AMONG OURSELVES

... --Willis BENNETT is seriously ill at his home 704 West Stone street. ...

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, April 22, 1924
Page Eight, Column 1

JUST AMONG OURSELVES

... --Willis BENNETT of 704 West Stone street was taken to the hospital yesterday for treatment. ...

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Original posting by Richard K Thompson --

Fairfield Daily Ledger
Tuesday June 3, 1924

Willis BENNETT Died Last Night

Passed Away At His Home After An Illness That Began With The Year

Willis BENNETT, 66 years old, died at his home, 704 West Stone street last night at 7:30 oclock after an illness of five months death being caused by cancer of the stomach.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Christian church and will be in charge of Rev. R. H. Polly, the pastor. Interment will be at Evergreen cemetery.

Mr. BENNETT was born in Chardon Geauka county, Ohio March 8, 1858. He came to Jefferson county October 18, 1880 and married Miss Sarah Crosby DABBITT (sic - BABBITT) February 14, 1884. She died July 21, 1897 and February 17, 1902 he married Miss Louisa Evaline SMITH, who survives. One daughter, Mrs. Winnie SMITH, of Ottumwa, is living.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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Added by Admin, July 2020 --

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Friday, June 6, 1924
Page Two, Column 2

PROBATE OF WILL

State of Iowa, Jefferson County, ss.

To All Whom It May Concern:

Notice is hereby given that an instrument, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Willis L. BENNETT, Deceased is now on file in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of Jefferson county and that July 2nd, A. D. 1924 at 9 oclock a.m., it being in vacation has been set for proof and final hearing of same.

Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 5th day of June, 1924.

(SEAL) C. W. IRELAND,
Clerk of the district court.
By H. B. BLAKELEY, Deputy.

135-3t

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, June 7, 1924
Page Five, Column 7

OBITUARY

WILLIS LUZERN (sic) BENNETT

Willis Luzern BENNETT, son of Alonzo and Margaret MAXWELL BENNETT, was born near Chardon, Geoga county, Ohio, March 8, 1858 and departed this life at his home in Fairfield June 2, 1924, at the age of sixty-four years, two months and 24 days.

He came to Jefferson county, Iowa October 18, 1880 and was married to Sarah Crosby BABBITT, February 14, 1884, who died July 21, 1897. To this union was born three children two of whom preceded the mother in death. One daughter, Mrs. Winafred E. SMITH, survives.

February 17, 1902, he was again united in marriage, this time to Louisa Evelyn SMITH who survives. To this union one son was born who died at birth.

He is also survived by four grandchildren, two brothers, A. A. BENNETT of Des Moines and D. E. BENNETT of Ohio, two sisters, Mrs. Effie GILBERT of Cedar Rapids, Ia., and Mrs. Dora COBB of Warren, Ohio.

Mr. BENNETT was affiliated with the local Christian church of which he was still a member at the time of his death.

By occupation he began the trade of well boring in 1886 and since 1895 has been engaged exclusively in deep well drilling until ill health forced him to give up his work in the fall of 1923. This work covered not only the territory of Jefferson county but of several adjoining counties as well so that he was well and favorably known by many people. The pall bearers were men for whom Mr. BENNETT had drilled wells.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church Wdnesday (sic) afternoon at two o'clock in charge of Rev. R. H. Polly. Interment was made in Evergreen cemetery.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, September 6, 1924
Page Two, Column 3

... Last Will and testament of Willis L. BENNETT, deceased; Will for probate and objections. ...

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Friday, September 26, 1924
Front Page, Column 2

... BENNETT Will Case

Selection of a jury in the contested will case of Willis L. BENNETT, deceased, was begun yesterday afternoon. Simmons, Simmons & Simmons, representing Louise Evaline BENNETT, the widow of the decedent and proponent of the will, and the contestant, Winifred E. SMITH, daughter of BENNETT by his first wife, is represented by Starr & Jordan.

The contestant alleges that the testator was of unsound mind when the will was executed, and that it was procured by undue influence; that it is not the will of said decedent, but is in fact the expression of the wishes of his widow.

The following people constitute the jury: Frank Swan, Vctor (sic) Johnson, E. O. Smith, H. Ecklund, Clarence Kurtz, Robert Summers, Miss Linn Knowles, Earl Martin, Mrs. Ruth Slimmer, C. A. Baker, Sherman Bishop, Cora Davis.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, September 30, 1924
Page Five, Column 4

MANY WITNESSES IN WILL CONTEST
BENNETT Jury Probably Will Not Go Out Until Late This Afternoon

The contested will of Willis L. BENNETT, deceased, is still occupying the attention of the court. The contestants rested their case yesterday, and evidence for the proponent of the will is now being heart. Both sides have subpoenaed a large number of witnesses and it is very probably that the case will not go to the jury before this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, October 1, 1924
Front Page, Column 3

JURY IN BENNETT WILL CASE OUT
But Little Other business Transacted in District Court Yesterday

The concluding arguments in the contested will case of Willis L. BENNETT, deceased, were made this morning and the case went to the jury at noon. ...

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Thursday, October 2, 1924
Front Page, Column 3

JURY SETS ASIDE BENNETT'S WILL

... The jury in the contested will case of Willis L. BENNETT, deceased was out only a little over two hours yesterday and returned with a verdict in favor of the contestant, theryby (sic) setting aside the will ofdecedent (sic). ...

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, October 4, 1924
Front Page, Column 2

... In matter of estate of Willis L. BENNETT, deceased; petition for appointment of temporary administrator. A. W. Streed is apointed (sic) special administrator and will qualify and give bond in the sum of one thousand dollars. ...

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Admin entires copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. IAGenWeb Bylaws PROHIBIT the COPYING AND RE-POSTING OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without WRITTEN permission from the poster ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in unmarked grave at Evergreen Cemetery, 1st Addition .019 along with first wife Sarah BABBITT BENNETT. Several other BABBITT burials are also in this plot, all with unmarked graves except for a Forrest V BABBITT (relationship to Willis not known yet).