The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-06-24
SHERIFF. Bennett
IS dead after
LONG ILLNESS
PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY At
1o:5o O'CLOCK THIS
MORNING.
SURROUNDED BY Children
and OTHER RELATIVES
Was Pioneer Settler Of Forrest County
and One Of Best Loved Men In
lt-strong Stand For Law and Order
Marked His Character.

Jefferson Davis Bennett, sheriff OF
Forrest county, and one of it's best
loved men, died at 1850 o'clock this /
His death ends long and
patient suffering.
When the end came he was sur !,
rounded by all his children and by
other relatives. He was not conscious,
but died peacefully.
Arrangements for the funeral have
not been completed, but it has been de-
termined that they will be conducted
Jointly by the Masons and Odd Fellows.
Was a Pioneer. .--
Mr.. Bennett was one of the pioneer
settlers of this section. He was here
long before Forrest county came into
being. He was here before the rail
roads were. He was native and to the
manner born; and was of that sturdy
type who brooked no obstacle, feared
no danger, and blazed the way for
higher civilization. He was man who
had opinions and will, and yet with
all Of few words; modest in demeanor,
quiet of manner, sympathetic and kind,
but forceful, determined and brave.
He had his convictions, and he dared
maintain them He loved peace and
quiet and good order. He knew there
could be no good order without good
government, therefore he was a firm
believer in law enforcement. And
even in earlier days, when this was in
sense more a frontier country than
now and outlawry was rampant, he
never truckled to these disturbing
forces, but as man and officer, with
the fear of God in his heart and the
statutes of the state in his hand, he
did his duty as he saw it, fearlessly,
faithfully, impartially; and he died es'
teemed of all men, and particularly
close to the hearts of the people.
He was born in this part of what was
then Perry county August 20, 1861
His father died when he was only II
years old. He had the plain, common
education of those days in this sparse
ly settled country
When he was 21 years old he opened
what was the first store in what is now
Hattiesbhrg. 1t was located on the
east side of Main street, about hall
way between Front and Pine streets
The firm name at first was Bennett &
Nixon; afterwards becoming Jones
Bennett & Co.
Elected County Assessor.
In 1892, when a part of what is now
this county was judicial district, Mr.
Bennett was elected county assessor
UJp to that time the work had beer
clumsily, carelessly, partially done
People were permitted to make theil
/ own returns, no questions being asked
and it was an open secret that thou
sands and thousands Of acres of lan(
we're escaping taxation.
Mr.. Benefits conscientious regart
: for his oath of office would not ALLOW
t him to connive at such fraud, and h
l made the first plat assessment eve
made of the county. He went VI
3 against a strong sentiment of an in
e fluential class when he did that; 10
Y then, as now, there were those VIII
= thought the law was made for others
# not for them. And just because he di
Il his duty, he made enemies, some
e whom never forgave him. But Will
e he was making enemies, he was mai
v ing reputation too; and not reputatio
It merely, but character. And that chal
acter, for probity and honesty an
fidelity to duty, no enemy can tax
Iaway, and as an heritage to his love
, ones, is better than great riches.
: Some years later he ran for sheri
and was defeated. He made a'secon
race and was defeated. But with a
IS undaunted spirit he tried It again
IT 1911 and was elected and went int
d office in January, 1912. for a four-yes
g. term.
o Leaves Large Family.
g Deceased leaves large family col
(Continued on Page Four.)