Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-27
TIE bentley DEATH.
Life and Death Of W. B. Bentley
For Eight Years in Business
Here.
Poor Boy, Clerk and Business Man
"A Successful Career and an
Upright Life.
Moved to Des Moines in 81 FRONT.
nent in Capital Business and
Church Circles.

The Des ,Moines Capital Of Monday I
evening has the following concerning
the life and death of W. b. Bentley (
until 1881 business man Of this city:
"A telegram was received yesterday
by j. G. Olmsted announcing the death
of his associate in the firm of Bentley
& Olmsted, w. r. Bentley, which oc
urred at Pasadena, Cal. al ) o'clock
Saturday afternoon. Mr.. Bentley had
| been in failing health fol the past year
| and some six weeks ago. accompanied
lby his wife, went TO California for thel
! benefit of his health. Nothing serious
/ was expected, and his letters OF late
4 had been hopeful and Indicative of his
1 slow but sure recovery. Friday tele-
gram was received stating that con-
lsultation of doctors had been held and
that they had given up hope. Shortly
after the arrival of this telegram came
a letter written by Mr.. Bentley on the
/ Goth, stating that he was improving
and that he felt that his recovery was
| slow but sure. Another telegram Was
received on Saturday stating that Mr..
/ Bentley was worse, and that there was
! no hope for his recovery. while yester-
/ day came the announcement that he
had passed away. Mrs. Bentley was at
4 his bedside at the time Of his death
! ..Wiliam Bray Bentley was born in
I1S51 at Elk Grove, WIS His father was
4 John BENTLEY, the proprietor OF small
i country store in that Village. AS soon
4 as he was old enough William entered
1.-The store and assisted his father in ths
4 numerous duties which fall upon the
4 proprietor of a general store. When 20
3 years of age Mr.. Bentley removed To
Marshalltown, Iowa, where for two
Il years he worked as a clerk In a boot
and shoe store.
Financially he was a poor man, and
q his only resources were his hands, his
Willingness to work and the sterling in
Itegrty ard honesty which distin-
gushed him in every transaction, no
matter how small. For TWO years he
Icontinued as clerk, and then entered
the business world himself, the style Of
the firm being Bentley & Walsworth.
and the stock of boots and shoes. The
capital of the firm was limited and the
stock was very unpretentious. But
! with remarkable financial tact and by
assumed quite respectable proportions.
: For eight years he continued in bust
II ness at Marshalltown, and in 1851 re-
:. moved to Des Moines, entering into a
partnership known as Bentley, Jaquith
& Co. This partnership lasted two
!, years, when j. C. Olmsted bought out
: Mr.. Jaquith and the firm becam,
: known as Bentley & Olmsted, undel
. ent time.
Mr.. Bentley. was married in 1892 t
Miss Frances Hall at Perth .Ambey, y
j.. whose sister, Miss Cora p. Hall, ha,
. made her home with the Bentleys 10
. some time past To this union tx'
: children were born, both of whom ar
still living. Hubert aged and Margeri
. aged & Besides these two children
j. and Mrs. Bentley the deceased leave
surviving MS mother, Mrs. John Bent
Hey. living on West Grand avenue nea
d his late residence. and three sisters. al
I: of whom are residents of Des Moines
j. Mrs j. G. Olmstad Of Park Lane ant
{ Insersoll avenue, Mrs. DR.. Laird, Q
West Thirty-tifth street. and Mis-
Belle Bentley, residing with her mothe
e on West Grand Avenue.
I Stronger than anything else in Nj
S Bentley's character was his Christian
$. ty. Mr.. Bentley was one of the mos
I Earnest Christians in the city of De
). Moines. and for u number of years wa
I. closely connected with church and mis-
% sionary work. He always gave one
II tenth or more OF all his income I
2 church and charitable work, and attrib
l. uted his success III the business World I
this practice al much as to anSthin
else He united with the Congregations
church when he was - years Of age. an
upon his removal to Des Moines Unite
i with the Plymouth Congregations
church. He was especially Instruments
7. in the erection Of the Greenwood Cor
D gregationai church. and upon its CON
ri Epletion transferred his membership frol
~ the Plymouth church to il.
IL "He was not a member of any lodge c
N secret society He was a member of tn
in Y. NJ. C. A. and was director Of III
III local Y. NJ. C. a. for a number of year
a. He took an active interest in the societ
OF here, and did az much for the local asst
m citation as any other man. He was
Y me,nber of the state executive COMM
Ks tee of the association for eleven yeal
T. and was president of the state associf
.tioIl Htiu III lil II ~ 1910
is was not a society man, but preferred
ar remain at home with his Wife and fan
~ ily He often remarked, II there is ar
u heaven on earth to a man it is h
r. home He Was a man of eonme
g. sense. conservative, quiet man vi
an could be depended upon at all times. al
. who will be missed in the city of D
~ Moines.
Mr.. Bentley was a republican, ";
an ardent gold standard advocate al
was president Of the Sound Mon,
League III This city during the nation
err campaign He vas not an orator al
never addressed a meeting. His gif
We did not lie in that direction, altho
all was a great student and was possess
ng of a good education. His hand look
ng after the arrangements and the bus
me ness end of the meetings and whenev
rst he was at the helm there was no eau
is for fear or trepidation, and the progra
in was carried out without hitch or d
of lay.
sic MIR. Bentley never enjoyed go
ere health, altho he remained at his post
to- duty until about year ago, when
ar. seemed to be declining. Since that til
he he went to his office only in the afte
lsol moons. and six months ago he took
nv short vacation, which was spent
~ rSts