From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1459-1461
 
FRANCIS A. BENNETT.  In all the relations of life Francis A. BENNETT, one of 
the substantial and well known citizens of East Troy township, Walworth 
county, has proved signally true to every trust.  He has spent his life in 
this state, believing that for one of his bent no better place could be found 
in which to fight out the battle of existence, and he has been very successful 
all along the line, building up, through his close application and careful 
management, a valuable landed estate and accumulated a competency, so that, 
now the snows of old age have begun to settle on him, he can spend his last 
years in peace, quiet and plenty, at the same time enjoying the good will and 
esteem of all who know him, for his life has been exemplary in its relation 
and he has sought to be of some service to the world, while laboring for his 
own advancement.
 
Mr. BENNETT was born in New Berlin, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, August 2, 
1845.  He is the son of Ezra and Amanda (RATHBONE) BENNETT, both natives of 
New York, where they spent their childhood and attended school, and from that 
state they came to Wisconsin in an early day, locating in Waukesha county 
where they found a wild country and there they endured the usual privations of 
new comers, but eventually became very comfortably established through their 
industry and economy, having taken up government land, thus literally hewing 
out their farm from the great forests.  The mother died in New Berlin.  In his 
political relations the father was a Republican and, leading a quiet home 
life, never sought office.  He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.  
His family consisted of five children, Frank A. of this review being the only 
one living.
 
The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm, on which he began 
working when only a boy, for in developing a home in this state in those days 
there as plenty for all to do.  He received his education in the pubic schools 
of his home district.  He has always followed farming.  He came to Troy 
township, Walworth county, in 1873, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of 
good land, and on this he lived until 1895, when he moved to East Troy 
township and bought the splendid farm he now owns, consisting of two hundred 
and fifty acres on which he has placed most of the improvements and which he 
has under a high state of cultivation, carrying on general farming and stock 
raising on a large scale and in a most successful manner.  He has made a 
specialty of breeding Poland-China hogs, and for many years was rated as one 
of the leading farmers and stock men in northeastern Walworth county.  He is 
now living practically retired from the active duties of life and rents his 
farm.  He has an attractive home and everything about the place denotes thrift.
 
Politically, Mr. BENNETT is a Republican, of the progressive wing, and he has 
long manifested much interest in public affairs.  He was chairman of Troy 
township, and also treasurer, filling these offices in a satisfactory manner 
to all concerned.  Fraternally, Mr. BENNETT belongs to St. James Lodge No. 41, 
Free and Accepted Masons, and he believes in carrying into his everyday life 
the precepts of this time-honored order.
 
In the month of October 1874, Mr. BENNETT was married to Celia S. KLING, who 
was born in Troy township on December 6, 1850, and there she grew to womanhood 
and received her education in the common schools.  She is the daughter of J. 
R. and Emily (BLISS) KLING, who came to Troy township in the early forties as 
pioneers, when the vast stretches of forest were the haunts of Indians and 
wild beasts and the cabins of settlers were few and far remote.  They finally 
went to Woodbine, Iowa, where they both died.  Their family consisted of eight 
children, of whom seven are living in 1912.  Three children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. BENNETT of this sketch, named as follows: Blanche, Gertrude 
(deceased) and Ruby.
 
Submitted by Carol