Beno, John

BENO

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/14/2007 at 22:20:01

John Beno

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.11, Council Bluffs)
John Beno, of John Beno & Co., merchants, Council Bluffs, came to Council Bluffs in the spring of 1861, with his brother, and lived with him one year; when his brother moved away, he then lived with Mr. W. D. Turner during the latter part of 1861 and all of 1862, during which time he attended the public schools of Council Bluffs, and in 1863 lived with Mr. H. C. Nult, working in an express office, and then entered the store of J. L. Foreman as salesman, and held that position until the spring of 1866, Mr. Foreman going out of the business at that time. Mr. Beno then engaged as salesman with Johnson, Spratlan & Co., with whom he stayed until July of that year, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Foreman, the firm being Foreman & Beno. He remained in partnership with Mr. Foreman until August, 1879, when Mr. Beno withdrew from the firm, and he then took a vacation and went on a visit to his parents at Portland, Oregon. He returned to Council Bluffs, and in the fall of 1880 opened up a general merchandise store at 18th Main and 17th Pearl streets, Council Bluffs, length of store-room and clothing department in upper story, the building being two stories high. Mr. Beno was born in Alsace, France (now Germany), in 1845, and at seven years of age came to America. He first lived in St. Louis six years, then removed to St. Joseph, Mo.; lived there thre years and then came to Council Bluffs. He married, in 1872, Elizabeth M. Robertson, of Little Sioux, Iowa, formerly of Council Bluffs. Mr. Beno has associated with him in business his two nephews, A. F. Beno and Charles Beno, two estimable young gentlemen.