The Story of James E. Bennett, Jr.
in his own words
Chapter 1
THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE BENNETT FAMILY.
My father's family:
THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE BENNETT FAMILY.
My father's family:
I have no knowledge of the history of my great grandfather Bennett's family. George Bennett, my grandfather, was born in 1848 in England. We are of the opinion that his parents lived in the London area. Grandfather's wife also was from the London area and we do have a copy of her mother's marriage certificate. Her name was Mary Ann Kerly. She and William M. Wilkinson were married on January 17, 1847 in the Parish Church in the County Of Middlesex, England.
Mary Ann Jane Wilkinson c. 1875
My grandfather, George Bennett, and Mary Ann Jane Wilkinson wanted to get married, however their parents refused to give them permission. They both lived in London, England. In order for them to get married it was necessary for both of them to leave England and migrate to the United States. George came first and went to work for Pittsburg Plate Glass Company in Pittsburg Pennsylvania. About a year later the company opened a glass plant in Festus, Missouri and George went to Festus. Festus is about 25 miles south of St. Louis. Soon after moving to Festus, George sent for Mary Ann. They were married in Jefferson County, Missouri on July 24, 1875 by Reverend John A. Gilbrouth, a Presbyterian Minster. I have a copy of the marriage certificate as recorded on page 108 in the courthouse marriage record book, and a record of his intention to became an American citizen on February 8, 1887. The copies were obtained from the courthouse in Hillsboro, Jefferson County, Missouri.
They settled down in Festus, Missouri where he worked for Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company until he retired. I have very little information about my father's parents. Grandfather Bennett died first and his wife died during the year 1920. We do have a picture of them. They had three girls and three boys.
- Julie Elizabeth (Julia) 9/13/1877 - (c) 1916
- Mary Ann (Mamie) 8/14/1879 - 5/1944
- George William 9/29/1881 - 4/25/1970
- John Thomas 5/29/1883 - 6/1965
- Jessie 12/16/1884 - 1/31/1947
- James Edward (my dad) 7/18/1886 - 8/28/1969
The Original Bennett family in America
Ed. Note - George Bennett and Mary Ann Bennett are seated, with their children behind them. James E. Bennett, Sr. is the young man standing at the left. I believe that is Phil Breckenridge standing on the right.
Jessie: Married to Mose Edmunds - Both deceased - No Children:
Mamie: Married to Phil Breckenridge - Both deceased, Phil died September 1975 - One child:
Mamie: Married to Phil Breckenridge - Both deceased, Phil died September 1975 - One child:
- Lucille married L. T. Schweider (deceased 3/12/95): No children. Lucille lives in Penney Farms, Florida
Ed. Note - Lucille's husband was called Zeke. We went to visit Lucille and Zeke when we lived in Illinois, sometime around 1965. They were still in the St. Louis area then. Elsewhere Dad gives Zeke's last name as "Schweitzer".
Jessie and Mamie, with Lucille in the middle, in front of the old Bennett home in Festus, MO
George: Married to Mabel - Both deceased - Five children:
John: Married to Flora - Both deceased - Six children
Julia: Married to Ed Osterwald - Both deceased - Ed died in 1962: Two children
- Mary Mae Bennett: (deceased)
- Inez Bennett Nayes
- Logan:
- Chesley:
- Wendell: A Doctor in Nashville, TN at one time
John: Married to Flora - Both deceased - Six children
- John Jr.: Married to Doris(1/22/84) - Both deceased, John died December 1992. No children.
- Arthur: Married to Marion - Both deceased - Arthur died in 1975 - One son
- Arthur, Jr.
- Richard married to? Children?
- Walter: Married to Floy - Two sons
- Harold: Married to Virginia - No children.
- George: Married to Ruth - Two children
- Debbie
- Ed
Julia: Married to Ed Osterwald - Both deceased - Ed died in 1962: Two children
- Dorothy Osterwald - deceased (1/23/84)
- Marjorie: Married to Melvin Landis - Both deceased. Marjorie died 6/87 and Melvin died 9/75 - One girl
- Julia married with several children.
- Julia married with several children.
Dorothy, Marjorie, and Lucille
James: Married to Elizabeth Markham - Both deceased - Three children
- Edith Markham: Married to John Eugene Kirk - One son
- John Bennett Kirk married to Lory - three children
- Gloria Lee: Married to James Latimer McClintock, Jr. Latimer died 5/93. No children.
- James Jr.: Married to Kathryn Jane Stroup - Three children
- Kathryn Jane: Married to Ray Clockel - No children
- James, lll: Married to Chris Bales - Three children, James, IV, Steve and Jackie (twins)
- Wayne Markham: (1) Married to Pam - One girl, Desi (2) Married to Michelle Burke - Three girls, Taylor, Chelsea and Gentry
James E. Bennett, Sr. in Uniform
James Edward Bennett: July 18, 1886 to August 29, 1969
I don't know much about his early life. Dad was born on July 18, 1886. He worked for Koken Manufacturing Co. of St. Louis before World War I. Koken manufactured and sold barber chairs and other items. He served in the United States Army during World War l and did not go overseas. After his discharge from the army he went to work for Conner & Walters in Charlotte, N. C, which was one of the companies that he had called on as a salesman before the War. I believe he only worked for two companies, that is, Koken and Conner & Walters. Conner & Walters sold barber supplies and chairs to the barber shop industry throughout the south. His secretary was Elizabeth Lee Markham whom he later married on January 26, 1920. In the mid twenties they purchased a home on Crescent Avenue in Charlotte. Around 1928 he bought Connor & Walters. At the time he purchased the company, it was a large company. Soon after he bought the business the great depression hit and that type of business was never recovered. The company became very small and stayed that way until he sold it. Earlier they had bought almost five acres of land on North Tryon Street. In 1935 they sold their home on Crescent Avenue and built a frame house on the North Tryon lot. The house was partly complete when we moved in. He later constructed a regulation tennis court for the children. It was out into the county, four miles from Charlotte city limits.
Dad sold his business in mid sixties and in late 1968 they sold their home on North Tryon Street and moved to Providence Road on the other side of the Charlotte. They purchased a new four bedroom home in February, 1969. He died on August 29, 1969. We had been on vacation visiting in Charlotte the week before. He always liked working on the yard and he was raking the grass on a hot August day around 16:00 when he had a heart attack and died immediately. A neighbor was coming home from work and as he was turning into his driveway he saw Dad fall. By the time he could stop the car and get to my Dad, he had died.
I don't know much about his early life. Dad was born on July 18, 1886. He worked for Koken Manufacturing Co. of St. Louis before World War I. Koken manufactured and sold barber chairs and other items. He served in the United States Army during World War l and did not go overseas. After his discharge from the army he went to work for Conner & Walters in Charlotte, N. C, which was one of the companies that he had called on as a salesman before the War. I believe he only worked for two companies, that is, Koken and Conner & Walters. Conner & Walters sold barber supplies and chairs to the barber shop industry throughout the south. His secretary was Elizabeth Lee Markham whom he later married on January 26, 1920. In the mid twenties they purchased a home on Crescent Avenue in Charlotte. Around 1928 he bought Connor & Walters. At the time he purchased the company, it was a large company. Soon after he bought the business the great depression hit and that type of business was never recovered. The company became very small and stayed that way until he sold it. Earlier they had bought almost five acres of land on North Tryon Street. In 1935 they sold their home on Crescent Avenue and built a frame house on the North Tryon lot. The house was partly complete when we moved in. He later constructed a regulation tennis court for the children. It was out into the county, four miles from Charlotte city limits.
Dad sold his business in mid sixties and in late 1968 they sold their home on North Tryon Street and moved to Providence Road on the other side of the Charlotte. They purchased a new four bedroom home in February, 1969. He died on August 29, 1969. We had been on vacation visiting in Charlotte the week before. He always liked working on the yard and he was raking the grass on a hot August day around 16:00 when he had a heart attack and died immediately. A neighbor was coming home from work and as he was turning into his driveway he saw Dad fall. By the time he could stop the car and get to my Dad, he had died.