George A. Bennett Biography

This biography appears on pages 1144-1145 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at https://sdgenweb.atwebpages.com/

GEORGE A. BENNETT. Business enterprise and progress in Bristol are attributable in no small measure to the efforts of George A. Bennett, a well known merchant and the president of the First National Bank of the town. With him a recognition of opportunity has ever marked the path of advancement. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, January 12, 1864, a son of George and Jane (Tregilius) Bennett. The father, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1821, was married in the state of New York to Miss Janes Tregilius, a native of England, born in 1836. Soon afterward they removed to Ohio and for five years were residents of Cleveland, going thence to Iowa in 1864. There the father purchased land and carried on farming until his death, which occurred in 1896. His widow still survives, being now in the eightieth year of her age. To them were born ten children, six of whom are yet living, namely: J. W., a retired druggist living in Janesville, Iowa; George A., of this review; Mrs. John Carey, whose husband is a farmer living in Waverly, Iowa; Everett S., of Bristol, who is associated with his brother George in the mercantile business; Mrs. A C. Clewell, whose husband is engaged in the real-estate business at Watonga, Oklahoma; and Elmer R., who conducts a transfer company at Pierre, South Dakota. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were earnest Christian people, the former holding membership in the Methodist Episcopal and the latter in the Episcopal church. In politics he was a republican and at all times he met the obligations of public as well as of private life. George A. Bennett was educated in the common schools of Iowa and started on his business career in connection with the drug trade. Later he turned his attention to general merchandising and has since been active in that field. In 1882 he removed to Dakota territory and since 1885 he has been one of the enterprising merchants of Bristol, having a well appointed store and carrying a large and carefully selected stock. His courteous treatment of his patrons and his honest dealing have also been elements in his growing success. He devotes most of his time to his mercantile business but he is also the president of the First National Bank, which is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars, has surplus and undivided profits amounting to seven thousand dollars and average deposits of two hundred thousand dollars. He is also the owner of farm land-and all this in the face of the fact that he came to the west a poor boy dependent entirely upon his own resources. The first marriage ceremony performed in Bristol was that of George A. Bennett and Emma F. Ross, who were joined in wedlock in 1886. The latter is a native of Mower county, Minnesota, and a daughter of Joseph Ross, an early agriculturist and civil engineer of that state. To our subject and his wife have been born five children, four of whom survive, as follows: Maude, the first female child born in Bristol; Olive M., the wife of Allen Baker, who is engaged in the restaurant and real-estate business at Manhattan, Montana; and Cora M. and Charles, both at home. The parents are members of the Episcopal church, in which they take an active and helpful part, Mr. Bennett serving now as warden. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge and Woodmen camp and in politics is independent, but is not remiss in the duties of citizenship and has served on the town and school boards. He is ever willing to aid in measures and movements for the public good and has cooperated heartily in many plans for the upbuilding of Bristol, while at the same time he has carefully conducted his business affairs and through the legitimate lines of trade has gained substantial and well merited success.