In December 1869, he purchased a partnership stake in a machine factory business and became sole proprietor in 1873. The business was then renamed Bennett's Thrashing Machine Factory, but was destroyed by fire in 1879.[2]
He became associated with the Republican Party and served in several positions in the Watertown city government. On January 1, 1879, Jefferson County's state senator Charles H. Phillips died on what would have been the first day of his senate term. At the January 20 special election, Bennett was elected to fill the remainder of his term in the 1879 and 1880 sessions.[1] He was defeated running for re-election in 1880.[3]
He died at the home of his son in Washington, D.C., in August 1913.[5]
Personal life and familyedit
Joseph Bennett and his wife, Susannah, were married in England. They had at least three children before her death in 1897.[4] Their daughter, Annie, died the next year. Their sons, Reuben and John, survived them.[6]
Electoral historyedit
Wisconsin Senate (1879, 1880)edit
Wisconsin Senate, 23rd District Special Election, 1879[1]
^ abcdWarner, Hans B., ed. (1880). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 504. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
^"Watertown". The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Western Historical Company. 1879. p. 425. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
^Heg, J. E., ed. (1881). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 500. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
^ ab"Death of Mrs. J. B. Bennett". The Watertown News. February 24, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved February 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Jos. B. Bennett Passes Away". The Watertown News. August 29, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved February 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
joseph, bray, bennett, february, 1833, august, 1913, english, american, immigrant, machine, manufacturer, republican, politician, member, wisconsin, state, senate, representing, jefferson, county, during, 1879, 1880, sessions, worked, much, rest, life, clerk, . Joseph Bray Bennett February 23 1833 August 17 1913 was an English American immigrant machine manufacturer and Republican politician He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate representing Jefferson County during the 1879 and 1880 sessions He worked much of the rest of his life as a clerk in the United States Department of Agriculture Joseph B BennettMember of the Wisconsin Senate from the 23rd districtIn office January 27 1879 January 3 1881Preceded byCharles H PhillipsSucceeded byFrederick KuselPersonal detailsBorn 1833 02 23 February 23 1833Bolton England UKDiedAugust 17 1913 1913 08 17 aged 80 Washington D C U S Resting placeRock Creek Cemetery Washington D C Political partyRepublicanSpouseSusannah E Bennett died 1897 wbr ChildrenAnnie V BennettJohn S BennettReuben A Bennett Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life and family 3 Electoral history 3 1 Wisconsin Senate 1879 1880 4 References 5 External linksBiography editJoseph Bray Bennett was born in Bolton Lancashire England in February 1833 1 He was raised and educated in England and emigrated to the United States in 1863 He settled briefly in Milwaukee before moving to Watertown Wisconsin where he established a foundry In December 1869 he purchased a partnership stake in a machine factory business and became sole proprietor in 1873 The business was then renamed Bennett s Thrashing Machine Factory but was destroyed by fire in 1879 2 He became associated with the Republican Party and served in several positions in the Watertown city government On January 1 1879 Jefferson County s state senator Charles H Phillips died on what would have been the first day of his senate term At the January 20 special election Bennett was elected to fill the remainder of his term in the 1879 and 1880 sessions 1 He was defeated running for re election in 1880 3 Former Wisconsin governor Jeremiah McLain Rusk became United States Secretary of Agriculture in 1889 In the Spring of 1890 4 he hired Bennett as appointment clerk for the Department of Agriculture Bennett moved to Washington D C and remained in this job until 1911 when he retired due to poor health 5 He died at the home of his son in Washington D C in August 1913 5 Personal life and family editJoseph Bennett and his wife Susannah were married in England They had at least three children before her death in 1897 4 Their daughter Annie died the next year Their sons Reuben and John survived them 6 Electoral history editWisconsin Senate 1879 1880 edit Wisconsin Senate 23rd District Special Election 1879 1 Party Candidate Votes Special Election January 20 1879Republican Joseph B Bennett 2 413 50 51 8 22 Democratic Walter Green 2 005 41 97 7 22 Greenback George W Bishop 359 7 52 1 01 Plurality 408 8 54 15 44 Total votes 4 777 100 0 20 87 Republican holdWisconsin Senate 23rd District Election 1880 1 Party Candidate Votes General Election November 2 1880Democratic Frederick Kusel 4 390 58 12 16 15 Republican Joseph B Bennett incumbent 3 080 40 78 9 73 Greenback George W Bishop 83 1 10 6 42 Plurality 1 310 17 34 8 80 Total votes 7 553 100 0 58 11 Democratic gain from RepublicanReferences edit a b c d Warner Hans B ed 1880 Biographical Sketches PDF The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Report State of Wisconsin p 504 Retrieved February 20 2022 Watertown The History of Jefferson County Wisconsin Western Historical Company 1879 p 425 Retrieved February 20 2022 Heg J E ed 1881 Biographical Sketches PDF The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Report State of Wisconsin p 500 Retrieved February 20 2022 a b Death of Mrs J B Bennett The Watertown News February 24 1897 p 1 Retrieved February 20 2022 via Newspapers com a b Jos B Bennett Passes Away The Watertown News August 29 1913 p 1 Retrieved February 20 2022 via Newspapers com Widow Receives Entire State The Washington Post August 21 1913 p 12 Retrieved February 20 2022 via Newspapers com External links editJoseph Bray Bennett at Find a GraveWisconsin SenatePreceded byCharles H Phillips Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 23rd districtJanuary 27 1879 January 3 1881 Succeeded byFrederick Kusel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Bray Bennett amp oldid 1209054091, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
