Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
H. S. BENNETT. Mr. Bennett was born at Shelton, Connecticut, October 5, 1861. He is the son of a sterling old New England family; the son of Henry and Emily Shelton Bennett, both born in Fairfield county, Connecticut, where our subject first saw the light of day and where his parents grew to maturity, received their education, and were married. The father was a steamboat captain on Long Island Sound, spending the principal part of his active life in charge of boats running out of New York, on the Bridgeport and Derby lines, where he was well known and popular, both with the passenger and freight patrons of these lines. Politically, he was a Republican, and for several years was a major in the Connecticut State Militia. H. S. Bennett, only child of his parents, grew to manhood in his native community, and received his education in the public schools and the Episcopal Academy of the state of Connecticut at Cheshire, Connecticut. In 1882 he left his New England home and came West, locating in St. Louis, where he engaged in the grocery business a few months; then entered the employ of the Waters Pierce Oil Company. In February, 1883, this company made him their local agent at Springfield, Missouri. In July, 1913, this company sold out to the Pierce Oil Corporation, Mr. Bennett retaining the position of local agent for the new concern.
Mr. Bennett was married in Shelton, Connecticut, in 1881 to Ila J. Wason, who was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, and is a daughter of Captain James and Elizabeth Mary (Fairchild) Wason. Captain Wason was born in Virginia and Mrs. Wason at Newton, Connecticut, where they were married. Captain Wason, in his early life, was proprietor of the Berkshire Mills at Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was captain of coasting schooners during the latter years of his life. He and his wife are both now deceased. Mrs. Bennett grew to womanhood in Bridgeport, and received a high school education, finishing it at Newtown Academy, Newtown, Connecticut. Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, namely, Shelton W., born March 18, 1883, married Mabel Clara McClain, and is now engaged in farming and general stock raising at the head of Lake Taney como, in Taney county, Missouri; James Hurley, born in 1897, died in 19088, and Henry Fairchild, born September 29, 1895, and is now at home with his parents.
Politically, Mr. Bennett is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, and is a past high priest of Vincel chapter. He is also a member of the Elks, and of the Sons of the Revolution, having had three great-grandfathers in the Revolutionary war; and is a member of the James River Club.
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