Deer Park township, LaSalle county, Illinois, has its full share of enterprising, up-to-date farmers, and among them none are more worthy of special mention in a work of this character than is William Ralph Bennett.
Mr. Bennett was born in the township in which he now lives, October 31, 1856, the eldest of the three sons of Isaac H. Bennett. The second son, Arthur E., is now a resident of Los Angeles, California, and the youngest. Rev. Milton G., resides at Clarion. Iowa. William R. was reared in his native township, on his father's farm, and with the exception of one year spent in Iowa, where he moved with his parents in the early '70s, he has never resided outside of Deer Park township. He remained with his father, assisting in the work of the farm and contributing to the common purse, until he reached his majority. At the age of twenty-four he married and settled on the farm which he now owns and occupies and which, under his management, is being successfully conducted and shows evidence of thrift and prosperity.
Mrs. Bennett was formerly Miss Belle Follett, and was born in 1859, in LaSalle county, Illinois, her father, James Follett, a well-known farmer of this county, having come here in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have four children: Walter Ray, Florence, Louise and Follett F.
Mr. Bennett's traits of character are well known to the citizens of Deer Park township. He has been their collector of taxes and has given them faithful service. His opinions and counsels are respected on matters affecting the welfare of his town and his standing as a business man is above question or suspicion. He has the same regard for right in doing things politically that he has in the every-day affairs of life.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 399-400.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
