William Bennett Obit

Decatur Herald - page 6

Friday, April 26, 1912

Decaturville, Tenn.

Submitted by Donnie


Dies leaving son aged 86, sixteen children survive father at Ashland City, Tenn., who is called when near 107.

Ashland City, Tenn. - William Bennett, who died at his home in the Second District of Cheatham County, was 106 years, 8 months and 27 days old.

   Mr. Bennett was born in Williamson County in the year 1806.  He is survived by sixteen children, the oldest being eighty-six years old.

   When Mr. Bennett 100 years old he cut cordwood as fast as his great-grandson could haul it to the Sycamore powder mill, a distance of some seven or eighty miles.  His father cut the first boards to cover the first frame building that was put up in Nashville in 1800.  William Bennett was then about four years old.

   About five years ago, when Mr. Bennett was 102 years of age, he cut his foot with an ax while hewing ties.  This disabled him for the rest of his live.