My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

GEORGE U. BENNETT, M. D., a member of the medical fraternity of Kingsville, came to this place in 1889, and, opening an office, has made rapid progress in the estimation of those who have occasion to need his services. His father, Jacob Bennett, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, came to this state when a young man, and settled on a farm in Jackson County, on which he yet resides. He is a carpenter by trade, but for many years has devoted his entire time to agriculture, and is now in his sixtieth year.

The mother of our subject, Mrs. Elizabeth (Cave) Bennett, only lived to be thirty-eight years old. She became the mother of five sons and one daughter. George U. was the eldest; John Price is engaged as a general merchant at Lone Jack, Mo.; Ella W. is deceased; Gains C. is bookkeeper in the bank at Kingsville; Charles makes his home in California; and Frank is engaged in farming with his father in Jackson County. Mrs. Bennett’s parents were natives of North Carolina.

The second marriage of Jacob Bennett occurred in 1885, Ella Hunter becoming his wife. This union was blessed by the birth of six daughters, who are all living. George U., of this sketch, was born in Lone Jack, Jackson County, this state, July 24, 1858. He was reared on his father’s farm, and when twenty years of age was enrolled as a student in the State Normal, but in order to pursue his studies there was obliged to teach school for a few months of each year.

For one year after completing his literary studies he worked for Ridnour & Baker, grocers in Kansas City, and while there learned considerable of the details of that business. His natural inclination led him soon after to study medicine, but in this undertaking he was greatly opposed by his parents, who did not consider him strong enough to follow the hard life of a physician. Although receiving no encouragement or advice from this source, he pressed forward, and entering the medical department of the Western Reserve College at Cleveland, Ohio, was graduated after a three-years course with the Class of ‘89. He then returned home and soon thereafter came to Kingsville, where he commenced practice.

Until the fall of 1894 he was interested in a drug store in this place, but at that time sold out in order to give his undivided attention to his increasing practice. For one term he filled the position of Coroner.

Dr. Bennett was married to Miss Maggie McElvaine in 1890, and to them has been born a daughter, Mabel. In politics our subject is a Democrat, and socially is a Mason, being Senior Warden of the lodge at Kingsville, and also belongs to the Woodmen of the World. He is greatly interested in the work of the Christian Church, of which he is a member, and is also affiliated with the Medical Society of Southwestern Missouri, and the State Medical Society.

* * * *

This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Johnson County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Missouri family biographies here: Johnson County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Johnson County, Missouri here: Johnson County, Missouri Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.