Biography - J. GEORGE BENNER

J. George Benner is one of the extensive farmers and prominent citizens of Bunker Hill township, Macoupin County, Illinois, where he owns 870 acres of fine land, situated in the best portions of Bunker Hill and Brighton townships, his residence being on a tract of 240 acres in section 20 in the former township. Mr. Benner was born March 29, 1836, in Germany, and is a son of John and Barbara Maria (Urbach) Benner.

The parents of our subject were both born in Germany, in which land John Benner served several years in the German army, and after completing his term of military service engaged in farming. In 1848 he came with his family to America, where he engaged during the remainder of his life in carpenter work and at general labor. He was a man of good habits, fair education, and, while not accumulating much property, was much respected for his honesty and integrity. In politics, he identified himself with the Democratic party. He was a consistent member of the German Evangelical Church. His death took place at Utica, Indiana, in 1862, at the age of 62 years. His six children were: Mrs. Christina Froehlich, of Alton, Illinois; Philip, who died in 1856 in Indiana, aged 21 years; Annie, who died of cholera in Indiana, in 1852; Reinhart, who also died of cholera; John W., who is engaged in the butchering business at Jeffersonville, Indiana, and our subject, who was the third in order of birth.

J. George Benner was 12 years of age when his parents decided to migrate to America, and he can well recall the incidents of their embarking at Bremen, on the sailing ship "Colmonia," the long journey across the ocean, the landing at New Orleans and the trip up the mighty Mississippi River and the Ohio River to Louisville, Kentucky. Many strange sights met his view and in themselves proved of great educational value. Before finally locating in Macoupin County, Mr. Benner lived at Louisville, Kentucky, spent one year at New Albany, Indiana, three more years at Louisville, some time at Utica, Indiana, and in 1864 came to his present home. During the Civil War he belonged to the Indiana Home Guards until he came to Macoupin County. He owns a farm of 240 acres in section 20, Bunker Hill township and two others in the same township, and one in Brighton township aggregating 870 acres. The foundation of his fortune was laid while in the butcher business in Indiana. Industry and thrift and the business capacity which made him invest wisely have done the rest. Mr. Benner engages extensively in general farming and stock raising. He has made so many substantial improvements on the property, including a fine home and other buildings, that this farm is justly ranked with the best in the southern section of the county.

In 1857 Mr. Benner was married to Charlotte Wilhelmina Bartels, who was born in Germany in 1840, and came to America with her parents in 1852. They landed at New Orleans and later went to Galveston, Texas, where they had expected a brother to meet them, but found when they arrived there that he had died of yellow fever. They then went to Louisville, Kentucky, and then to Utica, Indiana, where Miss Bartels was married to Mr. Benner. She is one of the four children of Ludwig and Dorothy Bartels, the others being: Ludwig, and Charles A., of Bunker Hill township; and Herman, of Hilyard township. Mrs. Bartels died at our subject's home in 1 891, aged 94 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Benner have had these children: Mary W., wife of John H. Dillon, deceased in January, 1884, leaving two children, — Mrs. Esther Johnson of Texas, and Lewis G., who lives with his grandfather; Charles C, of the hardware firm of Benner Brothers, of Bunker Hill, who has four children, — Carl, Pauline, Kenneth and Dale; Theodore S., of the hardware firm of Benner Brothers, who has four children, — Vera, Theo. George and Ralph Eugene; Ella, a music teacher, a graduate of the Alton Conservatory of Music, in the class of 1899, who resides at home; Lydia who married H. J. Heal of Bunker Hill township; Emma, who married T. B. Luken of Dorchester township; William J., a graduate of Washington University, who is a physician at a Baptist sanitarium in St. Louis; arid George, a promising young man, who died at the age of 20 years, May 8, 1891, just prior to graduating from the Bunker Hill High School.

Mr. Benner has taken a deep interest in the advancement of education, has served in a number of school offices, and has given his family many advantages. In politics he supports the Republican party. He has served the township officially on many occasions and has been highway commissioner several times. He is an active member and an elder in the German Presbyterian Church, of which he is a very liberal supporter.

Mr. Benner began life with little capital, but he faced every difficulty with courage, depending upon industry, honesty, temperance and economy, to forward his fortune. The result may be seen in his large accumulation of wealth and in the esteem and regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 212-214.