Butte County
Biographies
JAMES NELSON BENNETT
JAMES NELSON BENNETT.--Whoever labors to secure the development of his country, striving to bring out its latent resources; who is devoted to the general welfare of the people; who seeks to promote the cause of justice, and, in the course of a long life, advances our commercial, educational and agricultural growth, he it is who earns a place as a public benefactor and is entitled to mention in the pages of history. Such is the character and such the record of James Nelson Bennett, one of the early pioneers of California.
A native of New York, he was born in Cattaraugus County, May 19, 1833, a son of Hiram Bennett, a native of Fairfield, N. Y., who is mentioned on another page of this volume. James Nelson Bennett was educated in the common schools of his native state and was reared to farm work. He came to California in 1859, with his father and three brothers. They had started for Pike’s Peak, but on the plains met many men returning from that section who had become thoroughly disgusted with the conditions they found there. This band of sturdy men then decided to keep right on across the plains to California. Upon their safe arrival here they all engaged in mining, but found that occupation did not yield the wonderful returns they had expected.
In order to gain a more certain livelihood, James Nelson Bennett began to farm, in Butte County. He succeeded, and in time became a large landowner, having some three thousand acres of good grain land. On his home place, located seven miles northeast of Chico, he made substantial improvements, erecting a large residence with modern conveniences, and in time became one of the wealthy men of Butte County, firmly established in the business and social world.
Mr. Bennett was married first to Mercy Collins, of Indiana. She died in Nevada, on the trip across the plains, leaving no issue. His second marriage united him with Dicy Fox, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of Presley B. Fox, a Kentuckian who settled in Missouri, where he married Mary Ann Stewart, of Baltimore, Md. Presley Fox moved to Kansas, where he farmed until 1863, then, with his family, consisting of wife and eight children, took the long trail across the plains for California. On arrival in Butte County he farmed, near Cana. He was a public-spirited man, and when the Southern Pacific Railway was prospected through the county he gave them the right-of-way through his property. He died on July 27, 1905, aged eighty-seven. His wife passed away in January, 1864, aged thirty-seven.
Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, eleven children were born; Lulu, who died in girlhood; Nelson, who died aged ten years; Nellie, now Mrs. Houseman, of Chico Vecino; Isaac R., a farmer near Nord; William, also farming in the Nord district; May, residing at home; Jesse, a rancher near Anita; Mark J., farming in the Nord district; Hazel, who married Joseph L. Gianella of Nord; Wesley V., a farmer near Nord; and Gladys, residing at home with her mother.
Mr.
Bennett died in 1905, aged seventy-two years, after a long and eventful career.
He was a man who did a good turn for everyone and was held in highest esteem by
all who knew him. Since his death, his widow has continued to live on the home
ranch and gives her time to its management. She has shown her truly pioneer
spirit and her business acumen, and has been amply rewarded by financial
success.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 3/11/08.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 798-801, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Vicky
Walker.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies