Bennett - Louisa Lowe - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Mrs. Louisa Bennett, 95 years old died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Richard Breaks, 509 W. market, Monday at 12:30 after an illness of several years. Her death was due to advanced age. Her last illness has covered a period of 3 months and her daeth was expected for the past few days. Mrs. Bennett was one of the oldest settlers of this county and her record was a remarkable one. She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Lowe. She was born in Bartholomew County, KY. Her parents moved to Indiana when she was 9 and since that time lived constantly in this county. She was married to Edward P. Bennett May 18, 1841. Mr. Bennett was a farmer and resided near Elmdale. At their marriage Mrs. Bennett became a member of Thompson's Chapel Methodist Church and had been a member since. Mr. Bennett had two children by his first wife. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Bennett insisted upon enlisting but his heart was too weak. He died three months after the declaration of war. His two sons, John and Edward Bennett enlisted. The death of Mr. Bennett in 1861 and the absence of her stepsons, left Mrs. Bennett to support 9 children, the oldest of whom was only 14. The Bennett farm is about ten miles northwest of Crawfordsville. Her heroic struggle to support 9 children, especially in such a trying period as the Civil War stamps mrs. Bennett as an exceptionally strong woman. Born almost a century ago, Mrs. Bennett has seen Montgomery County grow from a wilderness to a garden spot and her relatives have the satisfaction of knowing she did her whole duty in helping to make it what it is today. The surviving children are: Mrs. Martha J. Breaks and Hanna K. Long of Crawfordsville; Mrs. William Thomas of Rossville, Ill; Mrs. William Meadows, marion, Ind; Mrs. Charles Coopey, Tulsa, OK; Mrs. William Collings, Washington DC; Mrs. Scott Smith, Greensburg, IN; WW Bennett, Robert Bennett and James L. Bennett, Elmdale. She is survived by three sisters and one brother, Mrs. Mary Gregory, Independence, KS; Mrs. Catherine Shanklin, Hoopeston, Ill; Mrs. Margaret Alexander, this city and Alfred Lowe, Maysville, Ind. The funeral services were held Wednesday morning at 10 at Elmdale, the Rev. RE Francis, pastor of the Methodist Church officiating. Burial in Oakland Cemetery. - kbz