SIXTH GENERATION

30. Rachel Dodge was born on Oct 26 1833 in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her birth date is derived from Iowa County, WI census of 1900 and the Bennett Family Bible. Rachel was born on a Saturday. She was in 1872 in Illinois. Rachel's obituary states: "She became interested in religion in the year 1872, under the labors of Elder Thompson and united with the A.C. Church on its organization as a charter member of which she has been a consistent member and energetic worker." She died on Jul 30 1911 in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois. Rachel passed away on a Sunday. She lived 77 years, 9 months, and 4 days. Her obituary states: "...she died after a long and severe struggle with the forces of our mortal nature, aged 76 years." Rachel's obituary continues: "We voice the sentiment of all who say, we sorrow with a deep pungent sorrow with the loss of such a lady from our midst. To the relatives of the deceased we would say you have the sympathies of the entire community. Our sister died in the expectations of the triumphant victory over death at the coming of our absent Lord, when the Sainted sleepers will respond to his call and come forth to be forever with the Lord." Another obituary for Rachel read: "Mrs. Rachel Bennett, a resident of Elgin since last October, died at 4:20 yesterday afternoon at the home of her grand daughter Mrs. Thaddeus L. Stephens, 133 College street, aged 77 years. She had been ill several weeks. Mrs. Bennett whose maiden name was Miss Rachel Dodge, was born October 22, 1833 in Nova Scotia. When she was 17 years old she located to Arena, Wisconsin where she made her home since with the exception of a few years. Besides her grand daughter with whom she lived, Mrs. Bennett is survived by a son Sidney Bennett and two brothers: Jacob Dodge of Round Lake, Minnesota." She was buried on Aug 2 1911 in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin. According to The Arena, Wisconsin published newspaper obituary of Miss Rachel Dodge, Rachel's funeral services were held at the A.C. Church of which she was a charter member. Her funeral was conducted at 2:00pm by Eld. B.N. Meigs. Rachel was buried next to her husband E.R. According to Rachel's obituary, she was originally from Nova Scotia and came west with her brother Gar diner and her family in 1854 and settled in Galena, Illinois were she lived 11 years. In 1895, Rachel and her husband E.R. moved to Arena, Wisconsin and lived nearby on a small farm. Soon after E.R. died in 1876, Rachel sold the farm, moved into town and built a comfortable home where she spent the balance of her life with the exception of a short time spent with Eld. (Thaddeus and Abbie) Stephens at Sparta, Wisconsin and Elgin, Illinois. Rachel was known to the family as "Ma Bennett".

Ma Bennett also had a foster son named Sidney E. Bennett that lived in Brigham, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Ma Bennett lists him and her grand child Abbie in her will dated December 7, 1909. A marriage record for Iowa County Wisconsin records that Sidney was married on March 14, 1900.

She was married to Elisha Rue Bennett (son of Emirato Bennette and Abigells Bennette) on Apr 27 1857 in Hazele Green, Grant County, Wisconsin. Hazel Green is on the very southern border of Wisconsin and Illinois. According to their marriage certificate, Elisha was from Mann, Illinois. Elisha Rue Bennett was born on Jul 31 1833 in Conquest, Cayuga County, New York. E.R. was born on a Wednesday. His birth date information comes from the Bennett Family Bible and his Marriage Certificate to Rachel Dodge. Elisha's birthplace of Cayuga County is in central New York and is south of Auburn, New York and southwest of Syracuse, New York. Only one record of Elisha's middle name has been found. It appears as "Rue" on the marriage registration record for his daughter Abigail. He served in the military on Mar 13 1865 in Dixon, Lee County, Illinois. Elisha (E.R.) served in the Illinois Volunteer Army, serving on the Union side, during the Civil War. He was in the 96th Illinois Volunteers, Company A. Within the "Muster and Descriptive Roll of the Regiment of Illinois Volunteers", Elisha R. Bennett is described as 32 years of age; 5 feet, 7 inches tall; brown hair; blue eyes; fair complexion. He is also listed as a farmer that was born in Cayuga, New York. He was mustered in by a Capt. Eustace for a period of one year.

Having joined the 96th for only two weeks, E. R. is sent to Tennessee and sends a letter dated March 30, 1865 to his wife Rachel. His letter reads:

"Dear Wife I take this time to let you know that I am well at present hoping these few lines will find you the same. We left Nashville last evening and arrived here this morning and shall start for Knoxville tomorrow morning where our regiment is. I have had a very good time so far and I think that we will the rest of the time. The Rebels air a ...(unreadable) now I have seen about sixty now and expect to see more ...(unreadable) their don't now anything about it you can address to Knoxville. Tell Abby that I should like to see her. I don't think of much more this time you must excuse these blots and all mistakes for I have no chance to write. When you write I want you to tell me all of the news. So good by from your husband and well wishes.

Elisha R. Bennett
Address Knoxville, Tennessee
Co. A., 96 Ill. Volunteers"

E.R. Bennett was transferred to Company B, 21st Illinois Infantry Volunteers on June 9, 1865. He mustered out of the Illinois Volunteer Army on Monday, September 4, 1865 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His regiment records also indicate that he was actually discharged at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin on September 4th. It appears that the remainder of his unit mustered out on December 16, 1865 in San Antonio, Texas. No indication was made as to why his earlier muster out date and there were also those in his unit that mustered out even earlier than E.R.

He died on Nov 28 1876 in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Mr. E.R. Bennett's obituary reads:

BENNETT - At Arena, Wis., Tuesday, Nov 28, 1876, Bro. E.R. Bennett, of cancer in the stomach, aged 44 years. Bro. Bennett was converted about six years ago under the labors of Eld. George Thompson, and since that time has lived a consistent Christian life. About two years since he became afflicted, but was confined to his bed only about five weeks before his death. His departure was very peaceful, dying without a doubt of soon meeting again in the kingdom of God. He leaves a wife and a daughter to mourn his loss, but they do not mourn as those who have no hope. Words of comfort from Job 14:14... "If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." E. R. lived on this earth 43 years, 3 months, and 28 days. He was buried on Nov 30 1876 in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Elisha is listed as E.R. Bennett, age 37 in the U.S. Census for Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin taken on July 29, 1870. His wife Rachel and daughter Abby are also listed. Rachel Dodge and Elisha Rue Bennett had the following children:

+41 i. Abigail Olivia Bennett.

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