Ingham County Biographical Sketches



Peter J. Bennett, Jr.


The name Bennett is inseparably interwoven with the history of Ingham county. The father of our subject, Peter Bennett, Sr., first settled in Meridian township in the year of 1851, and there bought eighty acres of unimproved land. He was a native of Ohio, and there married Miss Rachel Hahn, a native of the same state. To them were born twelve children, six of who are now living. With characteristic energy, Peter Bennett began the improvement and cultivation of his land, and erected thereon a log house of pioneer times, and here he and his good wife reared their family, while improving their possessions. Success crowning their united efforts they added forty acres to the original purchase, owning at the time of his death one hundred and twenty acres of mostly improved and productive land. Here he continued to reside for more than twenty years, reclaiming the land from its primitive condition to the usage of civilization. Few of this generation can realize the hardships endured by our early history makers. The difficulities they encountered, the obstacles they overcame in laying deep and broad the foundation of thier adopted county's present prosperous condition. Peter Bennett, Sr., gave his political support to the Democracy, and took an active and helpful interest in the early pioneer history of this county. Mrs. Bennett was a woman of estimable character, devoted to her husband and family, and proved a valuable helpmate on life's journey. Peter Bennett departed this life Sept. 13, 1894, his wife having died July 19, 1889. Both were laid to rese in Okemos cemetary.

Peter Bennett, Jr., the subject of this review, was born on the 3d day of October, 1848, in the State of Ohio, arriving here with his parents when three years of age. Here he received his early education, attending the common schools of his adopted county, and at the age of twenty-one years taught for one term in Meridian township; desiring to extend his knowledge, took a course in the Commercial College at Lansing. It was at about that time that he resumed his farming operations. In 1880 he purchased forty acres, and in the following year bought forty additional acres, now owning a desirable property of eighty acres of good and productive land. Our subject has made many improvements upon that place, clearing much of the land, and placing it under cultivation.

On Christmas day day of 1880, Mr. Bennett was united in marriage to Miss Eliza, daughter of John H. Groat, a native of the Empire State, who came to Ingham county in 1865, settling on a tract of land comprising one hundred acres, which he improved and placed under cultivation. Here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1889. John H. Groat emigrated from East Florence, Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1865. His wife was Ladesca, daughter of Manford Washburn, and they were united in marriage March 1, 1856. Mr. Washburn was a native of the Empire State. Mr. Groat was quite successful in his farming operations, and was a man of considerable ingenuity. In connection with his farming interests he also successfully conducted a saw mill for a number of years. His widow still survives him, making her home with two of her sons, who are single men. In this family there were three children: William J., born May 31, 1857; Simon M., born Dec. 23, 1859; Eliza A., born May 23, 1862. Mrs. Bennett being the youngest. To our subject and his wife have been born two children, namely Ladesca, born Dec. 20, 1884, and William, born Sept. 23, 1891. Almost the entire life of our subject has been spent in Ingham county, and he is familiar with its early history and has energetically assisted in its development and improvements. Mr. Bennett is a great admirer of fine horses, and usually owns a good team.

Mr. Bennett supports the men and measure of the Democratic party. Enjoying the good will and esteem of his neighbors and associates, residing in his pleasant home, where once the Indian roamed and wild game abounded, he can, in the later years of his life, look back upon the past, and take a pardonable pride in what has been accomplished by the Bennett family in making of history for Ingham county.






Taken from:
"Past and Present of the City of Lansing and Ingham County, Michigan", by Albert E. Cowles.
Published by The Michigan Historical Publishing Association Lansing, MICH., 1905.
Pages 305 - 306




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