An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 292 WILLIAM O. BENNETT is a member of the firm of Rice & Bennett, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, Centralia, Washington. They practice in all the courts of the State, negotiate loans and make collections, and represent some of the leading insurance companies of the United States. The individual members of the firm are A.E. Rice and William O. Bennett. Mr. Rice is a well-known member of the bar of Lewis county and is the present Prosecuting Attorney, having been elected to the office in 1892. The firm is accounted the strongest in the southern part of the State. Mr. Bennett is a native of the State of New Hampshire, born in Hillsborough county, September 3, 1840. The younger of two children of humble parents, his boyhood and youth were not the brightest; his father died when he was a mere child, and through force of the circumstances in which his mother was left, it became necessary for her to entrust him to the care of others, temporarily, until he was received into the home of Joshua Martin, where he lived until a youth of fourteen years. He attended the common schools for a brief period, and although his opportunities were limited, he laid the foundation for an education that has been acquired in later years through his own efforts, experience being his faithful, though often severe teacher. He left the scenes of his childhood at the tender age of fourteen years, and made his way to Minnesota, where he was employed on a farm for two years; he then took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed without interruption until 1868. At this time he took charge of the St. Charles elevators, and held the position four years, resigning to take up the duties of City Recorder, to which office he had been elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1873, without opposition. In 1878, he became traveling salesman for Walter A. Wood, manufacturer of agricultural implements, and remained in his employ for many years. Having a natural taste for law as a profession, Mr. Bennett took up the study as early as 1872, but did not seek admission to the bar until he had taken up his residence in this State. He located in Lewis county, in 1885, and for several years has been Notary Public. He is an ardent Democrat and has been of great service to his party as an organizer, and is one of its able and sterling leaders. In 1889, he was the Democratic nominee for the Legislature, and was on the ticket again the following year, and, although he ran ahead of his party ticket, the Republican majority of 400 was not overcome, and he was lacking eighty-one votes of election. Mr. Bennett is a member of the Masonic order and is a high official of that fraternity. While a resident of Illinois, September 8, 1863, he was united in marriage, to Mary L. Ives, a daughter of Henry T. Ives, a pioneer of Illinois, having located here in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are the parents of six children: Mary L., wife of C.J. Williams; Bertha M., wife of M.R. Ross, a merchant of Centralia; Nellie A., wife of G.M. Butterworth, in business at Seattle; Frederick; Frances H.; and one that died in infancy. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.