My Genealogy Hound

MORRISON A. BENTLEY, one of the highly respected citizens of Buffalo county, was born in Brown county, Ohio, October 6, 1831. His parents were natives of Ohio, and were married November 10, 1830. They had two children, Morrison A. and Martin C. The senior Bentley was a merchant at Georgetown, Ohio, in an early day, and went to Philadelphia and New York city by stage, once a year, to purchase goods, there being no railroads in those days. These long journeys by stage were made at a great risk of life and property. The route was through the Alleghany mountains, and passengers were often held up by robbers. Mr. Bentley sometimes returned from these long, perilous trips with his clothes perforated with bullet holes, and it was his custom always to arrange his business affairs before starting, just as though he never expected to return home alive. In 1846, he engaged in the manufacture of iron (pig metal) in Gallia and Madison counties, Ohio. In a short time he gained, by honesty, perseverance and energy, a competency sufficient to enable him to retire from active business. For nearly forty years he has resided in Portsmouth, Ohio, enjoying the reward of his youthful labors, living in comfort and affluence, esteemed by all who know him.

Morrison A. Bentley, in the fall of 1849, entered Alleghany college, at Meadville, Pa., and was an industrious and deserving student, until failing health compelled him to relinquish the thought of graduating. He left college to accept the position of book-keeper for the firm of Bentley, Campbell & Co. Finding office work detrimental to his health, he was given the position of general manager, which business required him much of his time to be in the open air. About this time, Mr. Bentley bought an interest in the iron works in which he was employed (his father retiring from active business) and the name of the firm (Bentley, Campbell & Co.) remained unchanged.

In 1862, he, with two other gentlemen, bought another iron furnace in Hocking county, Ohio, under the name of M. A. Bentley & Co., which he financiered successfully until after the close of the war, when again failing health and the protracted and almost fatal illness of his wife caused him to sell out his interests in Ohio and engage in agricultural pursuits in Iowa.

Morrison A. Bentley was married February 14, 1856, to Elizabeth H. Davis, of Portsmouth, Ohio. She was born February 14, 1837, and educated at the seminary in Steubenville, Ohio. She graduated from that school in 1854, when she was seventeen. The parents, James W. and Amanda Baldwin Davis, were born in Pittsburgh, Pa. Her father was for many years largely interested in the steamboat and iron business, and was one of the pioneers of Portsmouth, Ohio, where he lived many years, but subsequently became a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, where he died December 12, 1869. He was a man who commanded the respect of all who knew him.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bentley all of whom are now living. Mr. Bentley has given his children every opportunity within his power to obtain a good education. His two eldest daughters are graduates from the high school and Callanan college, of Des Moines, Iowa. These young ladies came to Nebraska soon after graduating, and took advantage of Uncle Sam’s offer to pre-empt homestead and timber claim land, teaching country schools “while holding down their claims.” They have been successful both as teachers and land claimers, having grit enough to prove up both on pre-emption and homestead. Their brother, too, took claims and is now a prosperous farmer. It required a great deal of “grit, grace and gumption” for these three young people to hold on to their claims, as there were many hardships and discouragements in the way; but they held on and came off victors in the strife, and are peaceable, honest possessors of the land.

In the beginning of the late war, Mr. Bentley, then in his young manhood, offered his services to his country, but was rejected on account of physical disability. He, however, showed his great interest in the cause by hiring a man to go in his stead. Both he and his wife took an active part in promoting the welfare of “the soldier boys.” He assisted the government in organizing troops in southern Ohio, and one company went out from his own works, commanded by his foreman. Regardless of his own interests, he did all in his power to encourage volunteers. He was one of many who suffered loss by Morgan’s raid in that state. Mr. Bentley is a quiet, unassuming man, and during his residence in this county has won the respect of all who know him. Although no politician, he is a firm believer in the principles of the republican party. In 1881 Mr. Bentley moved to Beaver city, Nebr., but in a few months located on the banks of the Loup river, where the family possess about seventeen hundred acres of land. He was instrumental in organizing the first school district in the township, and aided in building the first school-house. The country was then very sparsely settled, and the family realize very many changes since their settlement on the Loup.