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- HON. JOHN R. BENNETT, of Janesville, Wis., an excellent portrait
- of whom appears upon the opposite page, Judge of the Twelfth
Judicial Circuit Court, is a native of New York, born in Rodman,
Jefferson County, Nov. 1, 1820. His parents, Daniel and Deborah
Leeds (SPICER) BENNETT, were descended from English Puritan ancestors,
who settled in Connecticut about the year 1668. The father was
the fourth son of David and Rebecca (MINER) BENNETT, and was
born at Stonington, Conn., on the 16th day of February, 1793,
while David BENNETT, the paternal grandfather of our subject,
was a son of Stephen and Mehitable BENNETT. The mother of the
judge was a daughter of William and Hannah (LEEDS) SPICER, and
a granddaughter of Gideon LEEDS, whose home was in Leeds, England.
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- The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood upon his
father's farm, and received his early
- education in the common schools. In the fall of 1839 he became
a student of the Black River Literary and Religious Institute
of Watertown, N.Y., where he fitted himself for the profession
of teaching, in which he engaged at intervals until April, 1844,
in connection with his attendance at the Institute. At the date
mentioned he entered upon a course of law studies under the preceptorship
of W. W. WAGER, of Brownville, Jefferson County, N.Y., which
he continued for a period of six months. On the 28th day of November,
1844, at Hounsfield, Jefferson County, N.Y., he was married to
Miss Elsie L. HOLLOWAY, the daughter of Charles and Chloe HOLLOWAY,
whose sweet and gentle influence has ever tended to lead him
in the proper and pleasant paths of life, and to be under the
guidance of the better angels of his nature; the purity of her
life, the wisdom of her counsel and the comfort of !
her society are still continued to him by a beneficent Providence
and are the sources of his greatest happiness.
- In the month of April, 1845, Mr. BENNETT commenced reading
law in the office of Dyre N.
- BURNHAM of Sackett's Harbor, N.Y., and pursued his studies
with that gentleman until the 8th day of May, 1848, when he was
admitted to practice in the courts of that State. On the 2d day
of October following, he started for the West to seek a broader
field for the exercise of his talents in that attractive region,
and the 13th day of the same month reached Janesville, Wis.,
where he established himself in business. Over forty years have
passed since that time, and now, the young lawyer of two score
years ago, ripe in the experience of an active and successful
practice, honored for the high order of his talents and purity
of character, presides in the court where so often he has appeared
as an earnest and eloquent advocate. On coming to Janesville,
Mr. BENNETT, from the beginning, took a foremost place at the
bar of Rock County, and in all these years has been the peer
of the brightest and ablest in the profession. When it is remembered
that such men as CARPENTER, WHITON, KNOWLTON, NOGGLE AND JORDAN
were his contemporaries, the comparison is significant. His life
has always been a busy one, both as a lawyer and judge, while
in the practice of his profession he was specially noted for
the conscientious regard shown for the interest of his clients,
in a careful, painstaking preparation of his cases, and uniform
candor and honesty. By the strictest integrity and keen sense
of professional honor, he won and retained the confidence of
the people. In addressing court or jury, his commanding presence,
earnestness and ability always inspired respect and secured attention.
In the trial of cases he was peculiarly successful, having a
quick conception of that which would help or hurt his cause,
and possessing a certain reserve force that always seemed to
tide him over any sudden difficulty or emergency. His tact in
cross-examination was remarkable, and his triumphs in that direction
were numerous and marked. His business in the Supreme Court of
the State soon became extensive and increased in importance as
time advanced. It is said that no edition of Wisconsin Reports,
from the first to the last, has been issued that did not connect
his name with one or more cases. Endowed with mental faculties
of a high order, which have been trained by extensive reading
and systematic study, and being gifted with a quaint and pleasant
delivery, he is entertaining and instructive in discourse and
is a charming conversationalist.
- Judge BENNETT is tall of stature and of powerful physique;
yet modest and unassuming in
- manner, possessing quick sensibilities, but with perfect
self-command. Rigid and firm in his sense of duty, he yet has
a deep, tender and sympathetic nature, and knows how to "temper
justice with mercy." As a lawyer he was ever noted for his
uniform courtesy to his brethren of the bar, and for respect
to the court, as well as for his wisdom in counsel and force
as an advocate. As a judge, he is admired and respected for the
fairness of his rulings, the impartiality and justice of his
decisions and the manly dignity of his presence. In his political
sentiments, Judge BENNETT is a consistent Republican, and has
faithfully adhered to the principles of that party since its
organization. In 1860 he had the honor of being a delegate to
the National Republican Convention, which nominated Abraham Lincoln
for the presidency. He was elected District Attorney of Rock
County in 1863, was re-elected and served until 1867, and, without
being a candidate, was nominated by the Republican State Convention
of 1875 for the office of Attorney General of Wisconsin, but
was defeated with the rest of the ticket, with the exception
of the candidate for Governor, Harrison LUDDINGTON, who was elected
by a small majority. Mr. BENNETT was elected to the bench of
the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in April, 1882, by a large majority,
being the almost unanimous choice of the bar, which position
he has since filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction
of his constituents. In the Spring of 1888 he was again elected,
without opposition.
- Reared under strictly religious influences, and possessing
a deep veneration for the Holy
- Scriptures, Judge BENNETT has from early youth given the
subject of spiritual life, and the relation of the man to his
Creator, deep thought and earnest consideration. "He is
a New Churchman or Swedenborgian", as the members of the
denomination are more frequently called. They hold that the Sacred
Scriptures, unlike all human composition, contain within the
letter a spiritual sense, as far above the literal sense in beauty,
brightness and power as the immortal soul excels the perishable
body in which it groans in this life, being burdened. He counts
it a fortunate circumstance that his ancestors, so far as he
has any knowledge of them, were deeply religious; and for the
pious instruction received from his parents, who now, he trusts,
occupy the everlasting abodes of the blest, he is under a debt
of gratitude that can never be repaid.
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-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 191-192; lithograph from
same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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