My Genealogy Hound

J. B. W. Bennington, proprietor of the Republican, of Cassville, Mo., was born in Logan County, Ohio, July 17, 1844. He is a son of Prof. William R. and Priscilla W. (Wall) Bennington. The father, who was of Scotch descent, was born in Adams County, Ohio, in 1823. He received his literary education as Xenia, Ohio, and when a young man became a school-teacher. He afterward attended college at Columbus, Ohio, graduating in the medical and law course. He taught school in Adams County, Ohio, until 1844, when he removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, remaining until 1854, at which time he came to Missouri. Locating in Edina, Knox County, he served as county school commissioner for six years, during which time he also edited a paper. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seventh Missouri Infantry, as a surgeon, and on July 16, 1863, was severely wounded at Jackson, Miss. Being sent to the hospital soon after, he was retained until 1864, when he was discharged for disability. In 1865 he was elected mayor of Edina, but resigned the same year and removed to Greenfield, Dade County. During the last six years of his life he was principal and proprietor of Mount Zion Institute. He was a man of eminent ability, high esteem, and was one of the leading educators of the State. He was a Scottish Rite Mason in good standing at time of his death. His death occurred in 1876. His wife still survives, aged sixty-two years. She was born in 1826 in Northampton County, N. C., and is the mother of eight children, of whom J. B. W. is the eldest. He received his education at Edina, Mo., and Monmouth, Ill., and enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seventh Regiment of Missouri Infantry, at the same time his father enlisted. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and all the battles after that in which Sherman was engaged, and was with the latter in his famous march to the sea. On July 28, 1865, he was discharged at St. Louis, after which he returned home, and attended school one term. In 1868 he came to Cassville, becoming a one-half partner in the Barry County Banner, with which he was connected until March, 1871. From that time until 1881 he was at Joplin, Mo., engaged in lead and zinc mining. He is at present one of four interested in a lead and zinc prospect in the southeast portion of Barry county, which is being developed by tunneling and sinking shafts, and they are getting out fine specimens of both ores named. This is near an old Spanish working. The company are experienced miners, and think they have a big thing. In 1881 he went to New Mexico, returning to Joplin in 1883. On January 20, 1884, he came back to Cassville and resumed newspaper work, becoming editor and proprietor of the Cassville Republican on August 9, 1886. His marriage with Miss P. H. A. Townsend was celebrated on January 24, 1871, and to them were born following named children: Boney C., Winfred E., Hetty L., Frederick W., Charles B. and Clarence W., four of whom are alive. Mrs. Bennington is a daughter of W. G. Townsend, and was born January 4, 1852, in Barry County, Mo. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bennington are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bennington is a Republican in politics, is a charter member of Cassville Lodge of the I. O. O. F., and a member of the Masonic fraternity and other secret societies.