George Sylvanus Bennett

As printed in 1902

GEORGE SYLVANUS BENNETT.

Dr. George S. Bennett is a native son of this city, and his early education was obtained in its public schools. His paternal grandfather, Sylvanus Bennett, was born on Long Island, but when a young man removed to a farm adjoining the fort of Ticonderoga. He was a gallant soldier during the war of 1812. His father, John Bennett, was killed during the Revolutionary war. He was a resident of Long Island, where the family had been established at a very early date, they having come to America from England in the latter part of the seventeenth century.

Clark Lester Bennett, the father of our subject, resided on his father's farm at Fort Ticonderoga for a number of years, and the property is still owned by members of the family. In 1824 he came to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he became well and favorably known. In an early day he served his locality as a constable and as city marshal. As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Bennett those Nancy Jones, the eldest child of James- Jones, who came from Essex county. New York, to Knox county, Ohio, in 1824, where he became a prominent and leading farmer. His death occurred at the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Bennett's maternal grandfather, Thomas Patterson, died in Essex county. New York, at the age of one hundred and twenty-four years. Her brother, Lorenzo Jones, was a brave soldier throughout the Texan war. Six children blessed the marriage of Mr. and;\Irs. Bennett, and the brothers of our subject are: Captain Henry P., of Mount Vernon; Murry J., who died in Columbus, Ohio, in 1888, at the age of fifty-five years; and J. Burr, who died at Columbus, Ohio, in 1890, at the age of fifty-one years. The first named. Captain Henry P. Bennett, sen-ed in the Mexican war as a member of the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, while during the Civil war he was first lieutenant of Company B, Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantr>% and subsequently promoted to the rank of captain of Company A, of the same regiment. He died in Mount Vernon, November 2. 1901. J. B. Bennett was a member of Company E, Twentieth Ohio Aolunteer Infantry, during that memorable struggle. The daughters of the family were: Elizabeth, who married J. P. Snook, and both he and his wife are now deceased; and Eliza, deceased. She became the wife of B.

A. F. Greer, of Knox county, Ohio. He also offered his services to his country when the trouble arose between the north and the south, becoming a member of the Twentieth Ohio Infantry, and after three years of faithful service he was promoted to the rank of colonel, serving in a regiment in Hancock's Corps. He became very prominent in the public life of this county, and from 1873 until 1875 served as probate judge, and was also a prominent attorney of Mount Vernon. His death occurred in this city in 1880, at the age of forty-six years. The mother of our subject passed away in death m October, 1880, at the age of eighty years, and in the following year her husband joined her in the spirit world, dying at the age of eighty-one years.

George S. Bennett, whose name introduces this review, enlisted for service in the Civil war when eighteen years of age, becoming a member of the Twentieth Ohio Infantry% Company E, with Captain George Rogers in command. After one years' service therein he was made a member of the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio Infantry, in which he remained until hostilities had ceased and the country no longer needed his services. After his army career was ended Mr. Bennett took up the study of medicine under Dr. Matthew Thompson, remaining under his able instruction for a time, after which he entered the medical department of the Western Reserve College, of Cleveland, Ohio, in which he was graduated in 1868. After leaving that institution he followed his chosen profession at Chesterville. Morrow county, Ohio, for three years, and then returned to his old home in Mount Vernon, since which time he has been engaged in the livery business. He has met with success in this Hne of trade, and his is one of the best equipped and leading barns of the city. As a result of his straightforward dealing and close attention to his business he is now enjoying a liberal patronage, and he has not only secured a handsome competence but has materially advanced the interests of the community with which he is associated.

The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Bennett was in her maidenhood Miss Olive Long. Her father, Thomas Long, was a resident of Mount Vernon, but his death occurred many years ago. The family came originally from Pennsylvania. In his social relations Mr. Bennett is a member of Joe Hooker Post, No. 21, G. A. R., of Mount Vernon, in which he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades who wore the blue. In politics, he is a true Republican.

As printed in The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.