The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1929

Phineas BENNETT, fourth child of Joseph and Lydia (BIRDSALL) BENNETT, was born in Otsega county, New York, July 29, 1839, and departed this life at the home of A. T. BENNETT in Liberty township, Ringgold county, Iowa, Wednesday, January 2, 1929, at the age of 89 years, five months and four days.

His father, Joseph BENNETT, was a farmer and stock dealer, buying up stock and driving to new York City to market. In 1843 when Phineas was four years old, his father brought the family to Knox county, Illinois, in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. After a few years he took the family back to New York again.

In 1855, at the age of sixteen, Phineas returned to Illinois where he remained until his removal to Liberty township, Ringgold county, Iowa, on March, 1874, fifty-four years ago.

On May 2, 1862, at Cambridge, Henry county, Illinois, he was married to Miss Semira Arminta CODDING who preceded him in death January 21, 1916, her 73rd birthday. Semira, as a baby of six months, had been brought from Ashtabula county, Ohio, to Knox county, Illinois, by her father, A. B. CODDING, when he brought his entire family to Knox county, Ill., in 1843.

After a few years of renting and as a hired man, he bought a little farm of 79 acres. Here he established a home and by dint of persistent and laborious work, he cleared the timber from a portion of the farm, digging the stumps by hand.

In 1876, his two older brothers, the late Hon. John I. BENNETT, Master in Chancery of the U. S. Court, Chicago, and the late Alden Isaac BENNETT, long resident of this county, had shipped in 196 head of Texas cattle -- slender of body, long of horn, and vicious to one on foot. They employed Phineas to care for his herd and prepared them for market. This project required nearly two years to complete.

The elder brother, John I., owned a considerable tract of land in what was called "The Barrens" and to this the cattle were taken and the family moved. The owner of the land was so optimistic over the project that he named the farm "Kalorama," explaining that it meant "Beautiful Prospect."

When the school township of Liberty was redistricted from six districts to nine districts, the [Phineas BENNETT] became the first director of district No. 2. Because of the beautiful location of the school house he gave it the same, "Kalorama."

The cattle having been shipped, the family was moved back to the little farm, but for only a little more than a year, for in March, 1874, the deceased having sold it, he moved to Iowa, settling in Liberty township, as already indicated, where he has lived ever since, except a brief time when he lived in Mount Ayr.

Four children were born to Phineas and Semira BENNETT, two of whom have preceded the deceased, Imogene, who died January 22, 1924, and Lily, who died in infancy. He is survived by two sons [Jasper Corrington BENNET and Albert Thayer BENNETT], three granddaughters, three grandsons, one great-grandson and three great-granddaughters. He is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Mary MADGE of Afton, N.Y.

Thursday, December 27, he went home with the son living in Des Moines, who had come to see him. he returned home Saturday evening very weak, but sat down to supper and ate some. When he retired to his room, weakened by the flu, he fell against the stove. When the physician arrived Sunday morning he pronounced the disease "flu" and found that he had a temperature of 102. Monday the doctor found symptoms of pneumonia which developed rapidly and at 12:40, noon, Wednesday, January 2, 1929, the end came.

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 1:30 at Wishard chapel, being conducted by Rev. E. S. MENOHER and burial was in Rose Hill cemetery at Mount Ayr.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008

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