George Bennett
born in 1849, in Iowa
died January 1, 1936, in Ottawa, Illinois

Obituary:

AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSES DEATH OF G. BENNETT

George Clark Bennett, 87, of Dayton, died at 5 o’clock last night at the county home, from the effects of injuries sustained in an automobile accident six weeks ago, according to members of his family. He is the first La Salle county resident to die in 1936 of automobile accident injuries.

Coroner H. S. Lester of Streator is to conduct an inquest late this afternoon at the W. J. Dwyer mortuary.

Members of the Bennett family say the elderly man walked into the side of a moving automobile, which they assert was driven by Mrs. Alonzo Wright, of 118 West Marquette street. The incident, which was not reported to the police, according to Chief Frank M. Frazier, occurred at the intersection of Columbus and Superior streets.

Mr. Bennett and his son, Sam, Bennett, were crossing the street when the accident occurred, members of the family say. The elderly man, when he walked into the side of the car, suffered injuries about the legs and spine and was badly bruised. It is claimed that (continued on page 11, column 3) he was unable to walk after the accident. On November 21, about three days after the accident occurred, according to members of his family, he and his son, Sam, were removed to the county home in the police ambulance.

Bennett was born in Iowa in 1849, but for half a century and more had been a resident of Dayton and vicinity. He was engaged in farming near Dayton for many years and when he was a young man went to Iowa, with his wife and family of small children, by covered wagon, the journey taking nine weeks. He was a farmer in Iowa before returning to Dayton. In later years he was a teamster and odd jobs man.

He was in the habit of hitch hiking between Dayton and Ottawa, walking in the middle of the road and flagging rides. Three months ago members of the family say, he was struck by an automobile and suffered injuries about the legs.

He is survived by three sons, William H. Bennett and Sam Bennett of Ottawa and James Bennett of Chicago, and two daughters, Mrs. Verne Wilson of Dayton and Mrs. Monroe Lawrence of Ottawa, four grand-children and 11 great-grandchildren.

His wife, Mrs. Zena Ellen Bennett, preceded him in death 14 years ago. Five children, Mae, Olive, George, and Ray Bennett and an infant preceded him in death.

The body of Mr. Bennett will be removed to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lawrence, tomorrow, where it will remain until the funeral services Saturday afternoon at the Dayton community building. Burial will be in the Dayton cemetery.¹

1. [Ottawa, Illinois] Daily Republican-Times, January 2, 1936