Jesse Truesdell BENNETT was born 19 Jan 1831, Near Sugar Grove, Warren Co.,Pennsylvania, died 20 Dec 1906, Salem, Marion Co., Oregon

Jesse T. BENNETT enlisted in the Civil War in 1862, enrolling August 9, 1862 at Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Jesse's nephew, William E. BENNETT, son of his brother Luther P. BENNETT, enrolled the same day in the same company. Their service was in Co. G, 29th Regiment Iowa Volunteers. For three years Jesse served his country, he suffered the usual distresses most of the soldiers did. For a time he was in hospitals. In 1864 he was shot through the ear and suffered a hearing loss. This was in April at the Battle of Spoonville (Akaloma), Arkansas. Then four weeks later on April 30, 1864 he was slightly wounded in the left leg at the Battle of Saline River, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. He was honorably discharged at New Orleans, La. on August 10, 1865.

Jesse Truesdell BENNETT, 12th and youngest son of John and Rachel (PECK) BENNETT was born in and apparently grew up in Warren County, Penn. January 19, 1831. He married on the 17th of August 1848 to Helen Louisa TAGGART. The marriage took place just across the state line in Busti, Chautauque County, New York by Rev. Elder MOZIER. Jesse was converted early in life and joined the Methodist Church. He had five uncles (brothers to his mother) who were Methodist-Episcopal ministers. One was named Jesse Truesdell PECK. Jesse T. PECK was a minister in the Methodist-Episcopal church and was quite prominent both in writings and in church activity. Before he died Rev. Jesse T. PECK was a Bishop in that church. Jesse T. PECK was one of the founders of Syracuse University. Jesse Truesdell BENNETT, namesake of his uncle, later also became a minister but did not actively preach long due to poor health and civil war injuries.

Jesse T. BENNETT enlisted in the Civil War in 1862, enrolling August 9, 1862 at Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Jesse's nephew, William E. BENNETT, son of his brother Luther P. BENNETT, enrolled the same day in the same company. Their service was in Co. G, 29th Regiment Iowa Volunteers. For three years Jesse served his country, he suffered the usual distresses most of the soldiers did. For a time he was in hospitals. In 1864 he was shot through the ear and suffered a hearing loss. This was in April at the Battle of Spoonville (Akaloma), Arkansas. Then four weeks later on April 30, 1864 he was slightly wounded in the left leg at the Battle of Saline River, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. He was honorably discharged at New Orleans, La. on August 10, 1865.

A description of Jesse says he was 5 ft 10 inches, dark complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. We have a picture of Jesse in uniform. (?) Following service in the war Jesse and his family lived for a time in Iowa. It was while there that he was licensed to preach (about 1865). That fall he was on two circuits but he could not stand on his feet to preach, so he did not take regular work. From all indications Jesse T. BENNETT was the first of the BENNETT family to settle in what is now Antelope County, Nebraska. This was about 1869.

Jesse took up land in Cedar Township on the northwest quarter of section 9. In June 1869 he was already settled on his land as at that time he is mentioned as being the nearest neighbor of Mr. HORNE. The neighbor moved part of his goods into his new home and was planning on moving the rest in the next day. During the night it was ransacked by Indians and a group of settlers went out in hot pursuit, Jesse was one of those settlers. To protect the settlement from such incidents a group was organized called the "Elkhorn Guards" and Jesse T. BENNETT's name appears on the roll of the "Elkhorn Guards."

In 1871 Jesse T. Bennett appears on the tax list for Cedar Township, Antelope County. During that year he wrote to his brother, Andrew P. BENNETT, who lived in Ringgold County, Iowa, to come and "take up land" in Antelope County. Andrew came that fall bringing their "oldest brother, Hyrum, from Michigan" and a nephew, John H. BENNETT.

In 1872 Jesse purchased a steam saw mill and moved it onto the Elkhorn River at Oakdale, Nebraska, He operated this mill for several years.

Jesse T. BENNETT and his wife, Helen L. BENNETT are listed as among the first six members of the Cedar Creek Class of the Methodist-Episcopal Church organized by Rev. George H. WEHN Sept. 24, 1871. Among memories of that group is one of "Uncle Jesse T. BENNETT, with tears streaming down his cheeks asking for absolution from sin....." then the author of that statement goes on to say, "......and I never heard of his committing any....." According to Jesse's statement when he later applied for a civil war pension he lived in Antelope County nine years, then he moved on to Oregon.

He applied for his original invalid pension from Yamhill Co., Oregon May 28, 1880. He says then that his home was in Dayton. His occupation - farming, and that he was partially disabled from was service. By 1904 he was having much disability and so by act of congress (bill - H.R. 9756) he was granted an increase in his pension.

Jesse's wife said in a letter to her niece in 1907 that --"his (Jesse's) army disabilities was so bad he suffered for years more than anyone could tell. He was not able to work for a long time." Jesse T. BENNETT died at his home in Salem, Marion County, Oregon on Dec. 20, 1906 a month before he was 76 years old. The Grand Army had charge of the funeral. His wife survived him. She applied for and received a widow's pension from Jesse's service in the Civil War. Jesse's brother, (Rev.) George BENNETT, a preacher from Portland attended the funeral. George became the last of his parents’ children to survive.

Helen L. BENNETT, widow of Jesse T. BENNETT died at her home, 2161 Maple Ave., Salem, Oregon, June 9, 1910, three and a half years after her husband. Both Jesse and his wife are buried in City View Cemetary, Salem, Oregon.

There are ten children listed for Jesse and Helen. Five died young and five grew to maturity. Elbert B. BENNETT, born 1856 in Ohio, died Jan. 5, 1882 in Dayton, Oregon. Married to Ella Julia HOWARD. Lillie May BENNETT, born July 27, 1866, probably in or near Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Died before 1907 in Oregon. She married Frank BAKER. Lottie Dell BENNETT, born Apr. 23, 1869, probably in or near Mt. Ayr, Iowa. She married Will WYATT and was living in Monrovia, Calif. in 1910. Leveret Peck BENNETT, born June 12, 1872 Oakdale, Antelope Co., Nebraska. Married Alma ________. Living in Salem, Oregon in 1907. Helan (Helen) Elberta BENNETT, (called Nellie), born 24 Apr. 1876 Oakdale, Antelope Co., Nebraska. She married Job William DAVENPORT 27 Nov. 1891. She died 29 Mar 1962 at Newport, Lincoln Co., Oregon. In 1907 she was living in Glenn, Lincoln Co., Oregon on a ranch.

Jesse T. BENNET enlisted as a Private on August 9, 1862, age of 31, mustered into service with Company G. 29th Iowa Infantry Regiment on November 18, 1862; promoted to full 5th Sergeant February 8, 1863; promoted to full 3rd Sergeant July 1, 1864; promoted to full 2nd Sergeant July 16, 1865; promoted to full 1st Sergeant August 9, 1865; mustered out of service at New Orleans, LA August 10, 1865.

William BENNETT, nephew of Jesse T. BENNETT, enlisted from Ringgold County, Iowa as a 4th Corporal on August 9, 1862, at the age of 28 years. Mustered into service November 18, 1862 with Company G, 29th Iowa Infantry Regiment; died of disease December 18, 1864, Keokuk, Iowa.

Service information from American Civil War Soldiers, ancestry.com

Submitted by Michael Smith, February of 2009