The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-10-05
Death of Alvin M. Bentley

Owosso was saddened Monday by tr,
news at noon that Alvin NJ Bentley
had passed away suddenly at the sana
torium at Monrovia, California, where
he had been several months for rest and
treatment. 1t was understood that h.
was con-iderablv improved in health
and his death was shock to the family
and friends. Mrs. Bentley was with
| him at the time of his death and pre-
parations were made to start on Wed.
nesday with the remains for Owosso.
Mr.. and Mrs. Calvin p. Bentley left
Monday night to meet his mother ex.
pecting to accompany her from Albu-
queaue, N. Mex, and arrive here Sun
day, when final arrangements for the
funeral will be made.
Alvin VI Bentley was born in Orleans
county, New York, Oct CO. 1853 being
one of family of eleven children of
William and Sarah Bentley. His early
school Gays were spent in Orleans
county after which he lived two years
in Mia 4 ara county and then finishe his
schooling at Canandaugua Academy.
He began work at the Empire Drill
Co. plant at Shortsvil!e, N. Y, as ship.
ping clerk, becoming assistant superin-
tendent in four years. He moved to
Linden, Michigan, engaging in the
manufacture of wagons, and after
eighteen months of successful business
sold ont to his partner Myron Harris,
and bought an interest in the d. Thomp.
son 81 Co. business manufacturers of
farm tools and hardware dealers at
Ovid, and in 1886 the firm erected a
factory in Owosso, which later became
the Owosso Tool Co. with Mr.. Bentley
as sole owner, the name again changing
to the Owosso Manufacturing Co., now
the leading manufacturers of screen
doors and window s.reens in the world.
Mr.. Bentley was married in 1879 to
Miss Clara Brown of Shortsville N Y
who with two sons. Calvin P. Bentley
and Lieut.. A NJ Bentley, Jr., survive
him He is also survived by five broth
ers, J. Memo Bentley of this city; E E.
Bentley of Caledonia, N. Y; Clarence
Bentley of Penyan, N. Y; Delevan
Bentley of Niagara Falls and Cassius
Bentley of Clifton Springs, N. Y, and
one sister. Mrs. Ida Pierpont of this
city.
Mr. Bentley was an active member of
the First Congregational church of this
city and Owosso lodges OF Elks and
Mssons. He was vice president Of the
Owosso Savings Bank and the Union
Telephone Co., and director or stock
holder in the Estey Mfg. Co, Indepen-
dent Stove Co, Standard Machinery
Co.. and several other corporations, and
in all of these was an active and helpful
counsellor He was for several years
a director in the General Motors Co..
and brought the Reliance Truck Co to
this city, later securing in its place the
American Malleables plant.
Mr.. Bentley was an indefatigable
worker putting his best efforts into
everything he undertook, aud by his
ability and labor became one of the
leading manufacturers of the state, and
after becoming wealthy gave much of
his time and money for the benefit of
his employees and the city. He was a
republican in politics teing presiden
tal elector from Michigan in 1908, but
never sought public office.
Mr. Bentley was quiet an unassum-
ing, of kindly disposition, doing good
in all directions, always unostenta-
tiously, and was good neighbor and
citizen and true friend. His death is
sincerely mourned by all.