Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1922-02-03
"a YEARS As MAYOR AND JOB
is HIS FOR LIFE.
Mayor Bedrock, IS, Idol Of Matches;
50 Years In Office.
DAILY States)


age of eighty-four is entering his
thirty-fourth year Of service as head
of the municipality Of Natchez, or
seventeen consecutive terms.
Mayor Benbrook is also the Oldest
living past grand commander OF the
knights Templar Of the state OF Mis-
sissippi; is the oldest member Of the
volunteer fire department Of Nat
chez and is possibly the Oldest liv-
ing Elk Of the state, although he is
not certain Of the latter.
Since youth Mayor Benbrook has
been prominent in the political life
of Natchez. Previous to his election
as mayor he held the Offices of coun-
try assessor, city treasurer and chief
of police, retiring from each volun-
tarily. OF all the various public posi-
tions that he has held covering So
years the Mayor Htates that he is
proudest of the twelve-year period
that he was president Of the city
school board than all others.
Welded 81 Years.
Mayor Benbrook was born in Nat
chez in 1887 and except for three
years when he lived in New Orleans,
has resided in Natchez continuously.
He has been married for sixty-four
years and his wife still survives. OF
a family of ten children, two daugh-
tiers are living.
In his views Mayor Benbrook is
broad-minded and tolerant and it is
perhaps due to this that he has
throughout all the years 30 strongly
held the esteem Of the people. Fol
more than fifteen years he has been
unopposed for Office, and the tradi-
ton has sprung up that he shall
be permitted to die in office if he 50
desires.
It is said that in the far distant
past a candidate entered for the Of
fee Of mayor in opposition to Mayor
Benbrook on . reform" ticket, and
that on the eve Of the election q mass
meeting was called at q public hall
Hearing Of the proposed demonstra-
ton, James Clinton, one Of the most
brilliant orators and members Of the
bar of his day, although stricken
with a fatal illness, arose from his
sick bed and organized counter dem.
onstration at the county cour'
house.
Wattsrson's Friend.
The story goes that while the
court house was crowded to over
flowing with voters the attendance
at the reform meeting was slim in
deed. The campaign speech Of Gin.
ton delivered in behalf Of Mayor
Benbrook regardless Of the warnings
of physicians that it meant death, il
declared by older residents Of Nat
chez to have been a masterpiece Of
fiery eloquence and largely respon'
sible for the landslide Of votes which
swept his friend in triumph again to
office. Within a day after the cleo
ton Clinton passed away.
During his long years Of service
as mayor Of Natchez, Mayor Ben.
brook formed friendships with many
noted men, among them the late
Henry Watterson, and the recent
death Of the journalist caused the
Mayor to call to mind the occasion
Of the last visit Of Colonel Waiter
son to Natchez.
Kicks ON "Marsss' Cabinet.
"As I recall it," said Mayor Ben.
brook, "Watterson delivered an ad.
dress here on the subject Of TEN.
perance.' It was q splendid address
although quite different in many
respects to others that followed al
q banquet given by prominent citi.
Gems Of the city Immediately after
the speaking. The toastmaster # the
banquet was q Republican, and Wat.
terson, as you know, a rock-ribbed
Democrat.
Along toward the shank Of the
evening, the postmaster, placing
his arm arousd Watterson's neck
proposed the distinguished Kentuck
ian as q candidate for president, and
so certain were those present OF
Watterson's election, that the cabi-
net was Immediately formed and
was made up Of those present at the
banquet-the Republican toastmas-
ter being named as postmaster gen.
eral. Someone not thoroughly in
accord with the spirit Of the occas.
ion, suggested to Col. Watterson
that it would be q little unusual fol
a Democratic president to name q
Republican for such = position. but
amid tumultous applause Wattcrsoa
declared that he rose above such
narrow-minded partisanism and 90
surely as he was elected president
he wdnld certainly name his Repub-
lican friend Of Natchez as post-mas.
ter general.
Temperance HE One Rule.
Beyond failing eyesight Mayor
Benbrook has none Of rLs infirmi-
ties Of age and mentally is as alert
a. many men Of half his years. In
preserving his health he states he
has followed no special rules. al.