Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 539.

MILTON H. BENNETT

     manager of the Eastern Oregon Trading Company, and one of the prominent and
influential citizens of Kent, Sherman county, was born in Jones county, Iowa,
October 13, 1863. His father, Craig Bennett, was a native of Guernsey county,
Ohio. He died in 1890, in Sherman county, Oregon. His parents were natives of
Ireland.
     The mother of our subject, Isabel (Comstock) Bennett, is a native of New
York, and at present resides with her son, Milton.
     Until he was twenty-one years of age the latter was reared in Iowa, where
he attended the public schools in his neighborhood, and worked, on his father's
farm. In 1874 the family removed to Kansas, but at the age of seventeen he
returned to Iowa remaining there until 1886. Thence he moved to Oregon, whither
his parents had preceded him by two years. His father took up land under the
homestead laws, in Sherman county. This was in 1886 after the arrival of our
subject. For two years the family had resided near Goldendale, Washington. The
same year our subject secured land in Sherman county, two miles from the town of
Kent. In 1890 he secured another place under the homestead laws, selling the
preemption he had first located. He still owns the homestead which adjoins the
town of Kent. In 1900 he erected a warehouse at Kent which was the first
building in the town. This he conducted one season, and then sold out to the W.
W. Company, but continued to conduct it for them one season. January 1, 1902, he
engaged in the general merchandise business in company with Henry Schadewitz
under the firm name of Schadewitz & Company. This firm was continued fourteen
months when our subject disposed of his interest to his partner.  August 1,
1903, he purchased the interest of Schadewitz & Company, and organized the
Eastern Oregon Trading Company with a capital of $15,000. The officers, are
Henry Schadewitz, president; our subject secretary, treasurer and manager. The
subject's brother, Walter H. Bennett, and John J. Schaeffer are, also,
stockholders.
     June 25, 1995, our subject was united in marriage to Maggie Trotter, a
native of Vancouver, Washington. The nuptial ceremony was solemnized at Kent.
The bride's parents were James A. and Sarah (Wheeler) Trotter. The mother of
whom a biographical sketch appears elsewhere, was born in North Carolina, July
10, 1851.
     Our subject has four brothers : Abel C., of Everett, Washington ; Ralph C.,
living near Grass Valley, a farmer ; Walter H., a member of the Eastern Oregon
Trading Company, residing-at Kent ; and Frank L., a Sherman county farmer on the
John Day river. He has two sisters ; Jennie, wife of Joseph Patterson, a farmer
residing three and one-half miles southwest of' Kent; and Belle, wife of Ormond
C. Hogue, a farmer living near Kent. Fraternally our subject is a member of M.
W. A., of Kent, and politically he is a Prohibitionist. Mrs. Bennett is a
member, of the United Presbyterian church. They are the parents of four
children: Bessie, Earl, Cecil, and Ross.
     Mr. Bennett has served several terms as school director. In 1887 the
postoffice of Kent was established in his farm house and he was appointed
postmaster, in which responsible position, he remained ten years. At present he
is deputy postmaster, the office being in the Eastern Oregon Trading Company's
store. Mr. Bennett is a citizen of whom any community might be justly proud
energetic, public spirited, influential and' locally patriotic to the core. Both
himself and estimable wife are popular in social circles and highly esteemed by
all.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.