Bennett, Orson W. 1843-1904

BENNETT

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/9/2013 at 19:57:09

He is posted on find-a-grave and the person that posted his memorial puts his year of birth as 1843

EARLY RESIDENT DEAD
Col, Orson W . Bennett Expires at Philadelphia

Hon, I. 8. Struble, of this city, is in receipt of a letter from Chas. Bennett, informing him of the death of Orse Bennett who formerly lived in Le Mars. Mr. Bennett was one of the pioneers of the northwest and was an enterprising business man and well thought of by all the early settlers in Le Mars.

The following from the Sioux City Journal in regard to his life will be of interest to many of the old timers:

Word has been received here of the death in Philadelphia of Col. Orson W. Bennett, an early resident of Sioux City, and a man prominent in pioneer days in western Iowa and in Dakota. His demise occurred yesterday of paralysis, at his home at 1608 Green street.

To Col. Bennett belonged the distinction of having been commissioned colonel of the First Dakota militia and of having the first Dakota regiment. Col. Bennett came to Sioux City in 1867 and entered the hardware store of James Bacon in the capacity of clerk. He lived here until 1870, during which time his brother, Charles H. Bennett, now of Pipestone City, Minn., came here to live. Having learned the hardware business in 1870, Col. Bennett moved to Le Mars, establishing the first hardware store in that city. After being in business there for a number of jeers he moved to Dakota, living at Fargo and later at Bismarck. It was while he was living at Bismarck that he organized the Dakota militia under Gov. Puree. For the past twelve years he has been in business in Philadelphia.

Serving throughout the civil war. Col. Bennett made a fine record as a brave soldier. In 1861 he enlisted at Dubuque in the Governor's Greys, Company I , First Iowa infantry. He was wounded in the battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo. He served afterwards in the Twelfth Wisconsin infantry, and later was promoted to lieutenant, captain and to major in the First Michigan. Col. Bennett was in seventeen battles and for bravery in recapturing under fire three pieces of artillery at the battle of Honey Hill, S. C., he was presented by the war department with a congressional medal.

The funeral took place at the late residence in Philadelphia on Monday morning.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, January 15, 1904
Le Mars, Iowa