Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-06-13

Mrs. L. L. Williams and Mrs. James S.
MCGOWAN, both Of this city, are his sis
tiers.
Judge John r. Bennett was born in
Rodman, Jefferson county, y. Y, Nov
ember l, 1920. He was directly descend
ed from the Puritans who settled in con-
necticut in 1868, his father being a ma
tive Of Stonington, Conn, and his mother
of Groton, Conn. His parents moved at
an early day to Jefferson county, \. Y,
setting on land which was almost an
unbroken wilderness, and consequently
Judge Benefits bOyhood was largely
spent in assisting his father clear a farm
and make home in this then unsettled
region. He had a well-developed ambi-
ton for an education, and made the most
OF his limited school privileges. In the
fall of 1889 he became a student in the
Black River Literary and Relig-
ious institute at Watertown, \. Y,
where he fitted himself for teaching, in
which he was engaged at intervals dur
ing several years following. In April,
1874, he began the study of law in the
office of W. W Wager of Brownsville.
and afterwards continued it in the office
of l. \. Burnham of Sackett's Harbor.
until 1913, when he was admitted TO
practice in the courts Of New York That
same year he came to Wisconsin. arriv-
ing in GAINESVILLE October Is. He imme-
diately began the practice of his profess
sion, which he continued without inter-
fuptlon until his election to the circuit
judgeship in April, 1882. He soon ac-
CURED leading position at the bar and
became known outside of his locality as
lawyer and asjUdge Of marked ability
He was elected district attorney of. Rock
county in 1862 and was reelected at the
close of his first. term. =
So high did he Stand as a citizen, a
lawyer and a Republican that without
any effort on his part he was nominated
for encouragement of Wisconsin in
1875, but that year the party was de-
feated and he with it. In 1882 he was
almost by unanimous consent named for
the position of judge Of the Twelfth dis
trict to succeed Judge II. S. COnger and
was elected by a large majority. He wac
reelected in 1898.
Before he was elected to the bench
Judge Bennett took an active part in Re-
publican politics. He was a delegate tt
the Chicago convention in 1860, which
nominated Abraham Lincoln for Presi'
dent, and took an active part in thd
stirring affairs of the war and the re-
fused all public office whose duties did
not in some way call for the exercise OF
his professional knowledge. He wal
once urged to become a candidate fo1
Congress, but he declined in favor Of hl3
law partner, I. c. Sloan, who was elect
ed.
Judge Bennett was married at Houns4
field, n. Y, November %, 1914, to Miss
Elsie l.. Holloway of that city. Mrs.
Bennett died May %, 1893.
His term as circuit judge would have
expired January 1, 1901. The Rock
County Bar association has called a
meeting for tomorrow afternoon to take
action upon his death
Ripon, Wis, June O.-[Special. i
Jacob G. Stoller, a resident of Wisconsin
since 1856, died at his home yesterday,
following protracted illness, aged 81
years. The remains were taken today TO
Evanston for interment.
Madison, Wis, June 10-George G..
Barber of Oregon, aged SO, left that
place this morning with his son for Can
ton, ILL., When the train reached Gale
donna the old man died of heart failure.
Waupun, Wis. June 10 Special. i
Richard NJ Staalfeld died at his home in
this city last evening of Bright's disease,
aged %. He will be taken to Milwaukee
this evening for burial.