El Dorado County
Biographies
EUGENE T. BENNEY
Among
the most progressive of the business men of Placerville is Eugene T. Benney,
who is the owner and proprietor of the American Laundry and Dry Cleaners,
located at Main and Coloma Streets. The
modern and efficient character of this business is a credit not only to the
community but to the ability and skill of Mr. Benney.
Eugene
T. Benney is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of this section of the
state. He was born in Mariposa County,
California, June 8, 1883, a son of Thomas J. and Anna (Marshall) Benney. The father was born in El Dorado County, and
was one of the first miners at Virginia City, at the famous Comstock Mine. He made a fortune in mining, but later lost
it. His death occurred in May,
1927. His wife was born in Mariposa
County, California, also of pioneer stock, ad still survives her husband. Eight children were born to Thomas J. and
Anna Benney. Eugene
T. Benney received his education in the public schools of Nevada and Tuolumne
counties, California. At an early age,
however, he started to engage in mining and prospecting, and for fourteen years
continued in this occupation, traveling by foot and horseback over a wide
territory and through the vast mountains, having an interesting experience
despite the many hardships he encountered.
He was also connected with a surveying party for a time. In 1916 Mr. Benney came to Placerville and
here purchased the laundry which he now operates and which was the only one in
this section. He has developed the
business to a high point and utilizes only the most up-to-date methods and
equipment in his work. He employs about
twenty people and his business extends over the whole of El Dorado County.
Mr.
Benney was married to Miss Anna I. Hughes, a native of San Francisco,
California, and they are the parents of two children, Jeannette and
Vernon. Mr. Benney is a staunch
Republican in his political views and is now serving his second term as a city
trustee of Placerville. He has also
served for two terms as a trustee of the grammar school. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights
of Pythias and with the Ancient Order of Druids. His chief diversion is fishing for trout in
the mountain streams.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 335-336. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's El Dorado County
Biographies