BENNINGTON, James N.
In pioneer times a resident of this portion of Illinois, James N. BENNINGTON has been an interested
witness of the progress that has been carried forward by the
pioneer settlers and the later residents of the county and at
all times has borne his full share in the work of general
improvement and advancement. He has intimate knowledge of events
which have shaped the history of the county, and his memory
constitutes a connecting link between the primitive past and the
progressive present. His life record therefore cannot fail to
prove a source of interest to our readers, many of whom he
claims among his friends. Born in what is now Peoria county, between Peoria
and Washington, Illinois, his natal day was September 22,
1831. His father, Thomas BENNINGTON, was born August 22, 1803,
in Boone county,
Kentucky, near
Big Bone lake. He became a farmer by occupation, and, removing
to Illinois in pioneer times, he lived for a period in Peoria county and
afterward took up his abode in a pioneer cabin which stood upon
the farm which is now the home and property of his son James.
Here he owned two hundred and forty acres of good land, which he
converted into productive fields through methods which showed
him to be one of the progressive farmers of his day. His
political support was given to the republican party at the
polls, but he was not an active politician as regards office
seeking. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in
the Christian church. In early manhood he wedded Cynthia MASON,
who was born December 11, 1807. She too was a member of the
Christian church. Their marriage, which was celebrated March 5,
1829, was blessed with ten children. Parthena B., who was born
February 6, 1830, and is now deceased; James, of this review;
Nancy Jane, who was born March 22, 1834, and has passed away;
Margaret, who was born June 22, 1836, and is deceased; John F.,
who was born December 27, 1834, and has departed this life;
William, born November 7, 1840; Cynthia Ann, born May 2, 1842,
and is now deceased; Louisa; Mary, who died in Portland, Oregon;
and Martha, who completed the family.
James N. BENNINGTON spent his childhood days upon a farm in
the same locality in which he now lives, having been brought by
his parents to Putnam county in his early childhood days. He
pursued his education in the Belle Plain district school,
conning his lessons while seated upon a slab bench in a log
schoolhouse. He now has in his possession one of the slabs which
was used in the stick chimney and which is a mute reminder of
the early days and the methods of instruction which were
followed in that early schoolroom. In his youth he broke many
acres of wild prairie and performed other arduous work in
connection with the development of a new farm. There were many
deer in the county and wolves were quite numerous in his boyhood
days. He remained under the parental roof up to the time of his
marriage. During the Civil war he was drafted for service and
went to Peoria
in 1862, but it was not necessary that he should go to the
front. Throughout his entire business career he has carried on
general agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner of two
hundred and eighty acres in Bennington and Belle Plain townships. His home
is a beautiful residence situated at the western boundary of a
little village called Belle Plain.
On the 6th of May, 1858, occurred the marriage of James N.
BENNINGTON and Miss Amanda HOLLENBACK, who was born in Ohio, June 13, 1838, a daughter of Harrison
and Margaret HOLLENBACK. Her father lost his life at the hand of
an assassin in 1847. Her mother, who was born in Perry county,
Ohio, November 26, 1815, died at
Dana,
Illinois, July 10, 1895. She
became the wife of Harrison HOLLENBACK March 31, 1835, and
removing to Illinois, located in Woodford county near the town of Belle Plain. In the family
were five children: Mrs. Mary WEAVER, who died in 1864; Mrs.
Amanda BENNINGTON; Daniel; Samuel, who died in 1878; and Mrs.
Rebecca RICKEY. The mother, Mrs. HOLLENBACK, spent the last
twenty years of her life in Roanoke, Illinois.
She was for many years a devoted member of the Methodist church
and an earnest Christian woman, while her good traits of heart
and mind endeared her to all with whom she came in contact.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. BENNINGTON has been blessed with
two sons and three daughters. Samuel F., the eldest, born March
22, 1859, is now engaged in farming in
Bennington township. He wedded Maggie
NELSON and they have five children, two sons and three
daughters. Flora E. Benson, born August 29, 1861, is the wife of
C. M. McCHESNEY, who is living near
Packwood,
Iowa. Mary S., born December 6,
1865, is the wife of Arthur HAYDEN, a resident of Jacksonville, Illinois.
James F., born May 7, 1868, died November 23, 1871. Ida, born
April 20, 1870, is the wife of C. A. BURNHAM, living in Ashton,
Lee county, Illinois. The parents are a most estimable
couple, having the warm regard and admiration of all who know
them. They are members of the Christian church and their lives
are in harmony with its teachings. Considerate of the rights and
privileges of others, of kindly spirit and generous disposition,
they have gained the confidence and good will of all with whom
they have been associated. Mr. BENNINGTON is a republican in his
political views but has never been an office seeker, preferring
to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which
have been well directed and have brought him a goodly measure of
success.
Extracted 10 May 2011 by Norma Hass from
Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
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