The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-16
HIS SWEET BY AND BY"
DR.. Bennett, Author of the Famous
Song, Dead at Richmond, Ill.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
PLAINFIELD Ind, June 15.-Word was
just received here to-day that Dr. 8. Fill
more Bennett, the author of the Sweet
By-and-by," was dead at his home in
Richmond, ILL.,, at the age of sixty-two For
ever two years he was physician at the
Kelley Institute at this place, but the ar
duous duties of the place told upon his
health, and in the spring of 1896 he was
forced to resign. Last fall he returned to
his old home place in Richmond and spent
the winter in literary work.
DR.. Bennett had been ailing seriously for
over a year, and for many months his sight
had been affected This melancholy fact
had not, however, made much impression
on his naturally sunny disposition, but it
kept him from his books, and in a measure
saddened his surroundings. Within a
month his physical powers had greatly de-
Perforated and his decline recently had been
rapid. He suffered no pain, and the indi-
cations are that his passing away was as
peaceful as his life had been.
S. Fillmore Bennett, M. D., was a son of
Robert and Sally Kent Bennett, who were
married in 1921 Mrs. Bennett died at Lake
Zurich, ILL.,, on her eightieth birthday. For
years she had predicted that she would die
on that day. Robert Bennett died a few
years ago. aged about ninety. DR.. Bennett,
their son, was born in the village of Eden,
Erie county, New York, June q, 1885, When
to Plainf1eld, Ill, where the family resided
for three years; then removed to Lake
Zurich and settled on farm. Here he
passed his boyhood working on the farm,
attending district school during the winter
and reading all the books he could obtain
and find time for. At the age of sixteen he
two years later began teaching at Wau-
conda, Ill. In 1858 he entered the University
of Michigan, leaving to: take charge of the
schools at Richmond, Ill. Two years later
he resigned the position and went to Elk
horn, Wis, where for a brief time he was
associate editor and proprietor of the indie
pendent. In 1864 he enlisted in Company ID,
Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteers, and served
as second lieutenant.
Returning to Elkhorn, he opened drug
store and began the study OF medicine. 1t
was at this time that the doctor penned
1.-THE Sweet By-and-by." lie became as
ISOLATED with j. p. Webster, the composer
and they published numerous songs in sheet
music form. This hymn has given the au-
thor an enduring. place among the world S
poets. In explaining how 1t was written he
said recently:
THE idea of the hymn came to me like a
flash Of sunlight in reply to question had had
would not that make a good hymn said.
g May be it would said Mr.. Webster.
Turning to the desk / penned the words
OF the nyLlll DIS last DIS i COuld WHO.
handed the words to Webster. AS he read
his eye kindled. and, stepping to the desk,
he began writing the notes. Taking his VIC,
lin, he played the melody and then Jotted
down the notes for the chorus"
DR.. Bennett leaves a widow, Gertrude
Crosby Johonnett. and a daughter, Mrs
May r. Wray. Two sons are living in Chi
cago. Edwin r. is a successful physician.
and Robert c. Bennett is a rising young at
torney. The doctor was a member of the
Masonic order and of the G. A. R. In pol
itics he was Republican, and while mem
Der of no church he was by no means the
atheist and infidel that he has been pictured
in innumerable press notices. He was a pa
triotic and public-spirited citizen, a deep
thinker and a gifted writer.