Walter Vernon Bennett

BENNETT, COMBS, GIDEON, MCDONALD

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/28/2006 at 22:20:53

W. Vernon Bennett, who was born on the farm in Douglas township, is a successful and well known farmer. His natal day was the 30th of May, 1884, and he is a son of Andrew and Mary (Gideon) Bennett, who are spoken of on another page of this work.

Mr. Bennett attended the public schools on North river, the schoolhouse being the second built in the township. When twenty-two years of age he assumed the management of the home farm and has since operated it. He makes a specialty of raising pure .bred draft horses, but also grows the crops best suited to the soil and climate of this state. Since he is energetic and progressive and keeps in touch with the results of investigators who are striving to make agriculture a science he is meeting with deserved success in his labors and is considered one of the leaders among the younger generation of farmers.

In 1906 Mr. Bennett was united in marriage to Miss Corgie May McDonald, who was also born in Douglas township, this county. She is a daughter of William S. and Barbara Ellen (Combs) McDonald and is a niece of the man who, when a name for the county seat of Madison county was being chosen, suggested the name of Winterset instead of Summerset, as the weather was cold and stormy.

William S. McDonald was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, on the 23d of May, 1848, and his wife was born near Wathena, Kansas, in 1858. When a boy he emigrated westward with his parents and drove a flock of five hundred sheep. The family intended to stop in Illinois, but, hearing of the fine country open to settlement in Iowa, continued to Iowa, where they located in 1863. William S. McDonald completed his education by attending the district schools after his arrival in this state and upon starting out in life for himself turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He now owns six hundred and ninety acres of land and devotes his time and attention to its management. He is a republican and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Bennett is the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children, all of whom are valued citizens of this county.

Mr. Bennett belongs to Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., at Winterset and is an exemplary Mason, embodying in his life the spirit of brotherhood which is the foundation of the order. He has no political aspirations but in a private capacity does much to further the advancement of his community and is known as a good neighbor and a public-spirited citizen.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.