Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-07-01
DR.. S. Fillmore Bennett.
A Brief Sketch Of the Busy and Eventful Life
Of the Author OF Sweet By-andBy.


Of the Author OF Sweet By-a BY.
DR.. Bennett had been in declining
health for more than two years and for
several months his eyesight had been
gradually failing, until at his death on
June 1lth, inst. he was nearly blind.
This affliction kept him from his books
and preyed upon his mind, undoubtedly
doing much toward Fastening the end.
S. Fillmore Bennett, NJ. d., was born
in Eden, N Y, June 21, 1886. When
two years of age his parents moved to
Illinois, settling at Plaintield, and three
years later moved to farm near Lake
Zurich. At the age of sixteen, young
Bennett entered the academy at Wau-
kegon, where he made rapid progress,
as he was a close student and great
reader, and at the age of eighteen he
began teaching at Wauconda. In 1858
he entered the University Of Michigan
which he left to take charge OF the
schools in Richmond, Ill. Two years
later he went to Elkhorn, Wis, where,
for brief period, he was associate editor
Of the Independent. In the spring OF
1860 he was married to Gertrude Crosby
Johannot Of Richmond, H., who sur
wives him. From this union three
children were born, Mrs. May Wray of
Richmond, Ill., DR.. f. r. Bennett and
attorney r. G. Bennett, of Chicago.
T., IA, tba
Fortieth Wisconsin volunteers, serving
as second lieutenant. At the close of
the war he returned to Elkhorn, Ill,
where he opened drug store and began
the study of medicine. 1t was at this
time he penned "The Sweet By and-By, "
the hymn that has made him famous
While at Elkhorn he became acquainted
with the noted composer, J. p. Webster
and together they published numerous
songs. In 1874 he graduated from Rush
Medical College, Chicago and located in
Richmond where he remained in active
practice for twenty years and established
an enviable reputation as successful
physician. In 1898 the doctor accepted
position with The Keely Company re-
naming three years, during which time
he was medical director of the institutes
at Denver, Pueblo and Aspen, Col, De
troit and Alma, Mich, and Plainfeld,
H., and was compelled to resign in
1896 on account of failing health. For
few months afterwards he devoted
himself assidously to literary pursuits
re- arranging his old poems and writing
new ones. Then came the trouble with
his eyes, necessitating the laying aside
of his pen-then came the end.
While, as stated above, DR.. Bennett
achieved success in the medical field, it
was as writer of verse and prose that
he won renown. For nearly half
century he had written for the daily and
weekly press and the magazines. In the
sos his first published poem appeared in
the Waukegon Gazette, and from that
time TO within few weeks of his death
his pen has been in active use. While
Dr. Benefits fame was gained chiefly
by 1.-The Sweet By-and- By, many other
songs have been published and attained
deserved popularity. Among the most
recent and best of these is entitled "Old
Glory, which was written during his
stay here in Alma, the original copy of
which is in our possession. Several
other poems were written during his
stay among US, number of which were
published in the RECORD. DR.. Bennett
and wife, with his daughter, Mrs. May
Wray, made many friends while here,
who will join with us in extending the
most heartfelt sympathy to the bereavcd
family