"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1228.
 
HENRY L. BENTS

     Though for some time a teacher in the schools of Oregon, Henry L. Bents has
returned to the land upon which he was reared and to the pursuit of agriculture,
for which his early training fitted him.  He is the youngest of the three
brothers of the Bents family, whose sketches appear in this work, the sketch of
Fred Bents giving the history of the parents and of the removal from Switzerland
in 1854 to a settlement on the Kansas farm, which was lost through a defective
title, and the consequent trip to Oregon, where the father bought the land which
the brothers now possess.  The birth of Henry L. Bents occurred near Kickapoo,
Kans., February 28, 1862, the removal to Oregon taking place the next year.
Upon the farm which his father bought he was reared, his early training being
along agricultural lines, though his early-displayed love of books led his
father to give him the benefit of all the schools within reach, giving him a
course in the Oregon State Agricultural College at Corvallis after his  studies
at Butteville were completed.  At the age of eighteen years he began teaching in
the public schools, and being an exceptionally fine penman he added much to his
income by private classes in this branch.
     Upon the marriage of Mr. Bents, December 25, 1887, to Miss Agnes A. Smith,
a native of Oregon and the daughter of John F. Smith, he gave up his position in
the public schools.  Returning to the home place, he settled upon the share
which belonged to him, and with the same energy and thoroughness which had
characterized his efforts at teaching commenced the improvement of the farm.  He
has since built a handsome house, barns, etc., which add much to the general
appearance, in addition to the well cultivated fields which testify to his
success as a farmer.  He is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising,
though making a specialty of hop-growing, having been connected with his
brothers in this latter business since 1881.  In the last named year the Bents
brothers began the cultivation of hops on five acres devoted to that product,
from which they realize handsome profits.  Henry L. is also engaged in
hop-buying on an extensive scale.  The location of Mr. Bents' farm is two and a
half miles southeast of Butteville and about three miles from Aurora.
     Through his personal integrity and the many years' experience in which he
has conclusively proved his ability to cope with the adversities of the world,
Mr. Bents has won a wide popularity, and his place in the community is an
honorable one.  For the past eight years he has served as secretary of the
Hop-Growers' Fire Relief Association, and also fills that position in the
Farmers' Relief Association of Butteville, Ore., the territory of both
associations including the entire Willamette valley, Mr. Bents having held the
latter position for six years.  At the present time these associations carry a
business aggregating about $2,000,000.  In fraternal orders he is prominent,
being a member of Champoeg Lodge No. 27, A.F. & A.M., of Butteville, and of
Multnomah Chapter No. 2, of Salem, Ore.  He also belongs to Butteville Tent No.
22, Knights of the Maccabees.  Politically he is not a party man, reserving the
right to cast his vote for the candidate whose election he thinks will be
productive of most good for the country.  In his married life Mr. Bents has been
blessed by three children:  Leita May, Velma Ione, and an infant son.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2006 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.