Surname	Bennett
Given Name	Hiram William
Sex	Male
Born	29-MAY-1796 in Franklin County, Georgia
Died	21-JUL-1888 in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas
Buried	Bennett Family Cemetery (AKA Laurel Oaks Memorial Park), Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas
Religion	Baptist - Primitive Baptist Church
Father	Hardiman William or William Hardiman BENNETT; born: ~1765
Mother	Sarah F. EASTERLING; born: ~1780 in South Carolina

Marriages

Marriage 1

~1820 in Georgia to Theodosia "Dosia" DOBBS; born: ~1805 in Georgia

Children

• James Madison BENNETT CSA; born: 20-JUL-1821 in Pendleton County, South Carolina; died: 20-JUL-1883 in Dallas County, Texas; buried: Long Creek Cemetery, Sunnyvale, Dallas County, TExas
• Delilah C. BENNETT; born: 1823 in Georgia; died: 1874 in Collin County, Texas
• William Hardy BENNETT; born: 30-APR-1825 in Franklin County, Georgia; 30-MAY-1898 in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas; buried: Laurel Oaks Memorial Park, Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas
• Elisha Williams BENNETT; born: ~1827
• Sarah Ann BENNETT (12-JAN-1831 - 06-FEB-1920)
• Lewis Clark BENNETT (07-JAN-1833 - Bef. 1892)
• Elijah David BENNETT; born: 12-MAR-1835 in Jackson County, Alabama
• Lidia Jane BENNETT; born: ~1836
• Josiah Leath BENNETT; born: 16-JAN-1839 in Alabama
• Mary Jane BENNETT; born: 23-DEC-1842 in Arkansas; died: 18-DEC-1895 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas; buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Devine, Medina County, Texas

Marriage 2

~1846 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas to Sarah DOUGAN; born: 27-NOV-1827 in Randolph County, Arkansas

Children

• John Calhoun BENNETT; born: 21-OCT-1847 in Cedar Springs, Dallas County, Texas; died: 10-JUL-1847 in Lawson, Dallas County, Texas; buried: Mesquite Cemetery, Dallas County, Texas
• Solomon Monroe BENNETT; born: 25-DEC-1849 in Dallas County, Texas; died: 01-MAR-1849 in Talpa, Coleman County, Texas; buried: Talpa Cemetery, Talpa, Coleman County, Texas
• Emily Elizabeth BENNETT; born: 30-APR-1852 in Dallas County, Texas; died: 02-MAY-1942 in Clinton, Custer County, Oklahoma; buried: Alden Cemetery, Apache, Caddo County, Texas; married: William Edmond Eddy (1853 - 1920)
• Enoch Noah BENNETT; born: 04-MAY-1854 in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas; died: 01-NOV-1905 in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas; buried: Laurel Oaks Memorial Park, Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas
• Martha Naomi BENNETT; born: 05-MAY-1857 in Dallas County, Texas; died: 11-FEB-1942 in Dallas County, Texas; buried: Laurel Oaks Memorial Park, Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas
• Alfred Stephenson BENNETT; born: 28-JAN-1861 in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas
• Alphaus Lane BENNETT; born: 28-JAN-1861 in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas; died: 28-JAN-1861 in Arkansas; buried: King Cemetery, Crawford County, Arkansas

Story

HIRAM BENNETT was born May 29, 1796 in Georgia. In 1820 he married Dosia Dobbs, daughter of Lodowick and Sarah Adams Dobbs, who was born in 1805 in Georgia. Records in Franklin County, GA, show that Hiram purchased land in 1822, 1824, and 1827, totaling 105 acres. Also, Franklin County records reveal that Hiram was a lieutenant of the Militia in 1820 and 1821, and a captain in 1825. In 1832, he was a Justice of the Peace. Hiram sold the land in 1833 and moved to Alabama.

Dosia's family moved back and forth across the Georgia-South Carolina boundary, so perhaps Hiram and Dosia were living with them when James Madison and Delilah C. were born in South Carolina. William Hardy, Elisha Williams, Sarah Ann and Lewis Clark were born in Georgia. Elijah David, Lidia Jane, who died in infancy, and Josiah Leath were born in Alabama. Mary Jane was born in Arkansas.

Hiram moved his family to Randolph County, AR, in 1839, and to the Peters Colony in Texas by July 1, 1845. Dosia died at the age of 40 soon after arrival in Texas. Her burial place is probably Greenwood Cemetery, according to records from Gallison Newton Cole, a grandson.

In 1846, Hiram married Sarah Dougan. He was bonded as constable of Precinct 1 on July 31, 1846. He received a commission as Justice of the Peace for the precinct on Dec. 30, 1848. He first located at Cedar Spring, but later acquired larger holdings and lived in various locations in Dallas County. Children of Hiram and Sarah were: John Calhoun, Solomon Monroe, Emily Elizabeth, Enoch Noah, Martha Naomi, Alfred Stephonson "Burg" and twin Alphus Lane "Bain."

Four of Hiram's sons fought in the Civil War. Soon after the close of the War, Hiram and Sarah moved to Arkansas for her health, but in 1869 they returned to Dallas County. They located in the eastern area near his two older sons.

Hiram died July 21, 1888, and is buried in the Bennett Family Cemetery, now a part of the Laurel Oaks on Lake June Road.

Obituaries

The Dallas Morning News dated Sunday, July 22, 1888 (front page)

Mesquite, Texas., July 21. Mr. Hiram Bennett, the oldest man in this county, died this afternoon, about 1:30 o'clock, aged 95 years. He was surrounded by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and even little s of the fourth generation. To the day of his illness his mind was clear and bright. He was universally admired, having been a moral and a good man and a lifetime member of the Primitive Baptist church.

Dallas Daily Herald, July 23, 1888, p. 5, col. 1

Mr. Hiram Bennett died at his home at Mesquite Saturday afternoon. He was the oldest man in Dallas county, being 93 years of age. Children, grandchildren, great grand-children and great-great-grandchildren saw the venerable old man breathe his last. He was an honest, good, old-fashioned man.