William Bente, son of Ernst W. and Louisa (Buchholz) Bente, natives of Hanover, Germany, was born at that place on March 15, 1815. In 1844 he left the land of his birth and came to America, locating at once in Clayton County, Ia. He entered a farm of 900 acres, but has disposed of considerable of it since, reserving enough for a fine homestaed. He was married in Germany in 1837 to Mary Hillman. To them have been born eight children—Herman, born in April, 1840; William, in August, 1842; Louis, born in April, 1853, married Lydia Bee; Mary, born in May, 1856, is now the wife of Henry Wistich; Henry, born in 1837, was killed in the late Rebellion at Louisville, Ky.; Michael, born in 1850, died in 1871; Mary, born in 1847, died the same year, and Eliza, born in 1867, died in 1869. William Bente, Jr., enlisted in Company C, Sixteenth Regular Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing. He was discharged on account of his wound, but recovered and re-enlisted in the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. Herman was drafted into the service, and served about six months, when the war closed. Mr. Bente and family are members of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 737 |