Van S. Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Van S. Bennett
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From History of Vernon County, Wisconsin (1884)
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| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 4th district |
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| In office January 2, 1882 – January 5, 1885 |
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| Preceded by | Ormsby B. Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Joseph W. Hoyt |
| Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Vernon County, Wisconsin | |
| In office November 12, 1878 – November 9, 1880 |
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| Preceded by | Nathaniel McKie |
| Succeeded by | Robert S. McMichael |
| In office November 11, 1873 – November 10, 1874 |
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| Preceded by | John W. Greenman |
| Succeeded by | William F. Terhune |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Vernon 2nd district |
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| In office January 4, 1869 – January 2, 1871 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel B. Priest |
| Succeeded by | Henry A. Chase |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 15, 1836 Medina, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 1914 (aged 78) Rockton, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Kicked by his horse |
| Resting place | Rockton Cemetery, Rockton, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
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| Children |
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| Occupation | Lumberman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Volunteers Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1864 |
| Rank | Captain, USV |
| Unit | 12th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Van Swearengen Bennett (born March 15, 1836 – died August 24, 1914) was an American pioneer, businessman, and politician from Wisconsin. He was a member of the Republican Party. Bennett served in both the Wisconsin State Senate and the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Vernon County. He also bravely served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Contents
Early Life and Moving West
Van S. Bennett was born in Medina, Ohio, in March 1836. He went to school there when he was young. In 1846, when he was about 10 years old, his family moved to the Wisconsin Territory. They settled in a town called Medina in Dane County, where Van finished his schooling. A few years later, in 1852, his family moved again to Jefferson County.
When he was 17, in 1853, Van Bennett walked all the way across Wisconsin! He walked from Jefferson County to La Crosse. There, he bought a piece of government land to start a farm in Vernon County, Wisconsin. The next year, he helped build the very first saw mill in the town of Kickapoo, Wisconsin. In 1855, his family moved to his new land in Vernon County. Van then went to Richland County to work in the lumber camps, cutting down trees.
Serving in the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Van S. Bennett joined the army to fight for the Union Army. He became part of Company I in the 12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. When his company was being formed, he was chosen to be the first lieutenant.
In January 1862, his regiment left Wisconsin and headed south. That spring, the captain of his company resigned, and Van Bennett was promoted to captain. He served as captain for the rest of his time in the army.
Captain Bennett and the 12th Wisconsin Infantry fought in many important battles in the western part of the war. These included the Vicksburg, the Meridian expedition, and the Atlanta. His three-year service ended in November 1864, and he returned home to Wisconsin.
Building a Town and Political Career
After the war, Bennett went back to Richland County, where he had worked in lumber before. In 1865, he was elected to be the superintendent of county schools. But the next year, he moved back to his land in Vernon County. He decided to build a village on his property.
- In 1866, he bought a grist mill, which grinds grain into flour.
- In 1867, he built the first saw mill in the area.
- In 1869, he built a school house and gave it to the town.
Finally, in 1873, he officially planned out the settlement, which became the community of Rockton, Wisconsin. A post office opened there in 1871, and Bennett was the second postmaster.
Bennett joined the Republican Party of Wisconsin. In 1868, he was chosen to run for the Wisconsin State Assembly for Vernon County. He won the election easily in both 1868 and 1869. He decided not to run for a third time in 1870.
In 1879, he opened a general store in Rockton. By the 1880s, Van Bennett owned a lot of land in Vernon County, about 2,300 acres! In 1881, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Crawford and Vernon counties. He served in the state Senate in 1882 and 1883.
Even in his later years, Bennett stayed involved in local government. He served several more times on the county board of supervisors and the town board. He also helped manage the state asylum in Vernon County.
Van S. Bennett passed away on August 24, 1914, after being seriously injured by his horse the day before. He died at his home in Rockton.
Family Life
Van S. Bennett was the oldest of five children. His parents were Jacob V. Bennett and Eliza Groshong. Van had a younger brother, William H. Bennett, who also fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. Sadly, William died in 1864 while he was a prisoner of war.
Van S. Bennett married Jennie Loveless in 1858. They had one daughter. Jennie passed away in 1898. Later, Van married Sara Emiline Marshall, who was still alive when he passed away.
Besides his work and politics, Bennett was also active in community groups like Freemasonry and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
