BENNETT, James 1854-1937

BENNETT, PINKSTONE, TULLY, COCHERELL, DAVIDSON, STEADMAN

Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 3/26/2014 at 19:40:45

JAMES BENNETT

James Bennett, was born in Yorkshire, England, August 1, 1854. He was the youngest of six children, four sons and two daughters, born to William and Ann Bennett; his mother died when he was quite young. At the age of 11, James came to America, making the ocean voyage alone. Two older brothers were already in Utica, N. Y., and he came to be with them. In England he had lived on a farm, but in the United States he went to work in the woolen mills, soon becoming boss of the weaving room.

At the age of nineteen he married Miss Mary Ann Pinkstone, who had also come from England to Utica, N. Y. To this union were born seven children: William, who died at the age of three years, and Anna, who died in infancy; Mrs. Mayme Tully and Mrs. Grace Cocherell of Bonaparte, Mrs. Nell Davidson, who died ten years ago. Her home was in South Bend, Ind. And two sons, Charles and James of Lacon, Ill. The wife and mother died in 1894.

The Bennett family moved to Bonaparte in 1891, Mr. Bennett being boss weaver in the Meek Bros. Woolen Mills. He held that position continuously, with the exception of three years, spent on a farm near Mt. Vernon, Ill., until the mills at Bonaparte closed.

Mr. Bennett was united in marriage Nov. 12, 1895, with Miss Emma Steadman of Bonaparte. After the mills closed, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett moved to Chicago where he worked in a rubber tire factory for one year, going from there to Philadelphia, Pa. where he held a similar position for sixteen years. In 1925 they returned to Bonaparte, bought an acreage on the edge of town, and built a new home which they enjoyed until his death on Monday morning, March 8, 1937. His age was 82 years, 7 months and 7 days. He had been seriously ill about three weeks.

As a boy he united with the church of England; and he was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was devoted to his family and his home, deriving his greatest pleasure from keeping actively employed on his home place; it was remarkable the amount of work he accomplished, and he kept right on doing things until overtaken by his last illness. He was the best of neighbors, always fair and square in his dealing with his fellow men; he had the respect of all who knew him.

Mr. Bennett was the last survivor of his brothers and sisters. Of his own family he leaves to mourn, his widow, Mrs. Emma Bennett; his two daughters, Mrs. Mayme Tully and Mrs. Grace Cocherell of Bonaparte; two sons, Charles and James Bennett of Lacon, Ill.; eleven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, page 147