Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

-GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2921was required largely to secure his own education, and when the time camefor him to face life on his own account there were no aiding'influences tohelp him. Nevertheless, he has worked his way perseveringly ^upward, andnow, still in the prime of life, he. finds himself in a position of Business independence and the incumbent of a responsible public position.Mr. Bennett was born in Decatur County, in the extreme southwest cornerof Georgia, October 21, 1875, and is a son of William Franklin and Irenvia(Newsom) Bennett. His father, a native of Terrell County, Georgia, livedat various times in different^ parts of the state, devoted himself, to plantingand died at Cairo, Grady County, in 1910, aged sixty years. Mr. Bennett'smother, who was born in Alabama and reared in Mitchell County, Georgia,still resides at Cairo and is sixty-five years of age.W. H. Bennett was the eldest of the ten children born to his parents, andhe was early called upon to assist in the family support, as his parents hadbut small financial means and the family home was on a rented farm. Hiseducational advantages were negligible. While the youth had ambitions tobetter himself, he could be spared but little from the duties of the home farm,and when he was allowed to attend the country school, in the winter months,was compelled to tramp two miles through the woods and swamps, his entireschooling being confined to 152 days of attendance. However, he never gaveup his studies, and often, after a long day of the hardest kind of work, hewould devote himself to his books until far into the night. In addition tohis regular studies, he applied himself to mastering the principles of business, and thus was able, when the opportunity arose, to accept a position witha mercantile firm at Jacksonville, Florida, and to satisfy his employers so thatthey gave him a chance to learn the business. He remained in a clerical capacity for several years, but was always on the lookout to better himself, andfinally secured a position as traveling salesman for the Nelson Morris Packing Company, with headquarters at Atlanta. This was a good position for ayoung man, and for seven years he traveled through the state, all the timegaining experience and saving his means. He was still not satisfied, however, having the ambition to be at the head of a business of his own, andthis desire was realized in 1905, when he came to Tifton, and with his brotherestablished the firm of Bennett Brothers, dealers in agricultural implements,buggies, wagons, etc. He had no previous experience in this line, but hisnative ability, his salesmanship capacity, his energy, enthusiasm and alertness,arid the honorable manner in which he carried on his affairs soon attractedcustom to the new firm, which soon took its place as a necessary commercialadjunct in the growing and prosperous community. Today it is a substantialbusiness, with an excellent reputation in commercial circles, and drawing itstrade from all over this part of the state. It is not a difficult matter to conjecture the character of Mr. Bennett, for in a republican country, where meritmust win, we can tell much from his life from what he has accomplished.Inherited wealth may secure a start but it cannot maintain an individual in aposition where brains and executive ability are required. Mr. Bennett, however, did not have wealth to aid him in the beginning of his business career.His reliance has been placed in the more substantial qualities of untiringenterprise, perseverance and commendable zeal, and all of his actions havebeen guided by an honesty and sincerity of purpose that none have questioned.Mr. Bennett has been a democrat since casting his first vote and has beenan active worker in the ranks of his party. At the postmaster's convention,held at Washington, District of Columbia, October 21, 1915, he was introduced to and conversed with President Wilson, it being a singular coincidencethat this honor should come to Mr. Bennett on his fortieth birthday. OnJanuary 8, 1915, Mr. Bennett was appointed by President Wilson to the postmastershipat Tifton, and since that time has discharged the duties of hisoffice in a manner which has been of the greatest benefit to the mail service