Bennett Family

Brief History

• William Wilkie Bennett (1862-1951) and Mary Ethel “Fanny” Bannister Bennett (22 Dec 1858-4 Aug 1943, Westview) moved to Blacksburg and rented a farm in 1890 from Mr. Dundas for a few years but returned to their farm in Fincastle, “Hillside.”
• In 1912 they sold “Hillside” farm and built the house that is located on Bennett Hill. The couple bought, trained and sold horses. In the recollections below her daughter, the author, commented “In 1912, my parents sold the farm at “Hillside” and built here in Blacksburg where they had enjoyed living so much while I was at school in England, and decided to live here permanently. Mother had a wonderful time designing her own house. Since she had brought no antiques from Europe, she had Mr. Kanode build all her furniture, and the whole house was designed to fit the way she and my father wanted to live.”
• The couple had three children, Charles Alwyn Bennett (1886-1924), Francis Gray Bennett (1892-1926) and Frances Violet Jane Bennett Lockwood Massey (11 Aug 1885-8 June 1982).
• Fanny was very active member in Christ Episcopal Church with interest in public health. Her daughter mentioned this in her recollections – “One of the greatest desires of my mother, and one at which I believe she spent three-fourths of her days and time, was to help the sick, the needy, and the lonely. For 2 years, Mrs. King, the first welfare worker in this county, lived with my mother and it proved to be a wonderful combination, for Mother knew well so many people and their needs and Mrs. King had the training for helping them. Mother was very active in the Red Cross, was Chairman of the T.B. Association in this county for 16 years and spent her days driving round trying to help the people, physically and educationally.”
• “In the death of Mrs. W. W. Bennett of Blacksburg on August 4, 1943, the Tuberculosis Association in the Blacksburg Community lost one of its most active and faithful volunteer workers. Her influence was county-wide. With others, she helped establish the first chapter of the Red Cross in Montgomery County twenty-five years ago. At that time the tuberculosis work was under the Red Cross. When they severed connections, the National Tuberculosis Association was organized.
  Mrs. Bennett then carried the T. B. banner in this county almost alone for ten years. For the next fifteen years, she centered her attention on Welfare in the Blacksburg Community. She was an inspiration to all who knew her and beloved by those whose welfare became her burden.
  Four years ago at the age of 80 years, Mrs. Bennett felt the need of retiring from active service, but never once until her death did she lose her teen interest in this cause.
  If the Blacksburg District can claim any degree of success today, it is largely due to the foundation laid by means of her inspiration and wonderful personality.”.  Grace Townley Miller (Mrs. Warren Miller), Chairman of TB Association.

Links & Social Media

Blacksburg, Memories of the Way We Were
Search on Bennett for information

Video of Wong Park provides a feel for the lay of the land.

Documents

Mary Ethel Fanny Bennett – Memoires of the Bennett Family – Violet Bennett Lockwood Massey, daughter of Fanny Bennett, presents her memories of her mother and their family. Of historical interest is Fanny’s involvement with the local Red Cross, TB Association and Mrs. King, the first welfare worker in the area.

Social Media

As Reported by Ed Marsh on Facebook, 8 August 2020 – (All in Quotes) William Wilkie Bennett 1862-1951, Namesake of Bennett Hill, Blacksburg, Virginia. William Wilkie Bennett was born on Aug 23, 1862 in Glossop, Derbyshire, England. He died on June 10, 1951 in Blacksburg, VA. His father, Francis “Frank” Grey Bennett (1830-1863) died when William was less than a year old. His mother, Jane Grey (1840-1918), took her young son back to her childhood home – Glencorse, Midlothian, Scotland – to raise. William is listed in the Census of Scotland in 1871. In the 1881 Census of England, William was back in Derbyshire living with his uncle and attending college.

In the 1900 US Census of Buchanan, Botetourt County, VA, one finds William, age 38, wife M. Ethel G. Bennett. She was Mary Ethel Frances “Fanny” Banister (1858-1943). Also on the Census was Charles Alwyn Bennett, son, age 7. Not listed on the Census were two older children: daughter Violet Frances Jane Bennett (1886-1982), and son Francis “Frank” Grey Bennett (1886-1924). Violet and Frank were listed on the 1901 England Census living in Derbyshire with their uncle Charles Bennett, M.D. All three Bennett children were born in Botetourt County.

Mary Ethel Frances “Fanny” Bannister was born in Poona, in British Colonial India. Her parents were Charles William Edward and Harriette Pitts Bannister. The Bannisters were born in England so one assumes they were in India because Charles was a businessman or administrator in the Colonial Government. Thus Fanny was born in India. Whether William knew her in England and sent for her once he was established in Buchanan, VA, or whether they met in VA, I do not know. (See the memories of Fanny, above.)

William and Ethel married in Botetourt County, VA in 1884.The 1900 Census says that William immigrated to the US in 1881, and that Ethel came in 1886. Clearly she was in America sooner since she married in VA in 1884. My assumption is that since William Bennett was raised with his mother’s family in Scotland, he immigrated to the Highlands of Virginia. Whatever led to his destination, once he was located in southwest Virginia, he never ventured far from his new home in America – however, he and Fanny retained their English Citizenship all their lives.

1910 US Census – William age 48, wife Fanny age 52, daughter Violet age 25, and youngest son Charles are living in Amsterdam, Botetourt County, VA in a rented house. Elder son Frank (Francis) age 24 is living in Buchanan in their old home (which was “owned” according to the census).

On October 18, 1911, “Frances Violet Jane Bennett” married Rhodes Greene Lockwood (1874-1942) of Lexington, MA.

Rhodes Greene Lockwood’s presence in southwest Virginia is as mysterious as is William Bennett’s. Lockwood was the son of a wealthy Boston family. For generations the Lockwoods were successful business and society members in Boston. Rhodes attended M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) before joining the family manufacturing business. A few years after the death of Rhodes Greene Lockwood, Sr. the thirty-something year old Beacon Hill businessman left Boston and moved to southwest Virginia to become a farmer.

By 1920: The Lockwoods were living in Buchanan, VA with their growing family of 4 children: Margaret age 7, Jane age 5, Anna age 2, and Rhodes Jr. age 1 month.

The Bennetts had moved to Blacksburg – into the place we now call “The House on Bennett Hill.” The census taker in 1920 wrote, “Private Road leading N E from Progress St.” By the 1950s when I explored this neighborhood, Faculty Street proceeded from Progress St. to the beginning of the Bennett’s private road.

June 5, 1917 Draft Registration: Charles Alwyn Bennett, age 23, born Blacksburg, VA, home address Blacksburg, VA. Precinct: Amsterdam, VA. Employed by MacLoud Lumber Co. Buchanan, VA. brown hair, Brown eyes, reason for disability: Inflammatory Rheumatism.

June 5, 1917 Draft Registration: Frank Gray Bennett age 30, born Fincastle, VA. home address Blacksburg, VA. Precinct: Blacksburg, VA. Occupation: Student V.P.I. Red hair, Blue eyes, reason for disability: Weak ankles

So there it is: Home in June 1917 was Blacksburg, VA. On March 12, 1918, William’s mother, Jane Wilkie Bennett (1840-1918), died in Blacksburg, VA. Her death certificate says “Lived in Blacksburg 3 yrs, 4 months;” since Dec 1917. I can find no other records of her presence in the United States. She is buried in Westview cemetery in Blacksburg.

On September 10, 1920, Francis “Frank” Grey Bennett was committed to Western State Hospital in Staunton, VA suffering from “Pulmonary Tuberculosis.” He died on May 2, 1924.

On February 2, 1926, Charles Alwyn Bennett died in Merion, Pennsylvania. At the time, he was the owner of a “Texas Oil Service Station.” He died of “Enteritis – Colitis with complications from Muscular Dystrophy.” Charles and his brother Frank share a gravestone in Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg.

Rhodes Lockwood and family continued to reside in Buchanan, VA while he and Violet participated in various business concerns in Roanoke, VA. He served as “President” and she as “Secretary” of at least three companies: a Lumber Company (MacLoud); an Automobile Finance & Insurance Company branch headquartered in Philadelphia, PA; an electric appliance company and retail store; and founded the Davidson Rubber Company (communications from Rebecca Lockwood).

On the 1930 US Census
The Lockwoods: Rhodes G. age 56 General Electric Appliance, Violet B. age 44, and their 5 children: Margaret D. age 17, Jane V. age 15, Anne N. age 12, Rhodes G. Jr. age 10, Mary B. age 8.

The Bennets: The census taker wrote “One mile north of Blacksburg.” William W. age 67, Ethel M. age 70, William E. Mills age 19, servant.

On the 1940 US Census
The Lockwoods: Rhodes G. age 65, wife Violet B. age 54, daughter Violet J. age 25, born MA, Rhodes G. Jr. age 20, born VA, daughter Mary B. age 18, born VA

The Bennetts: William W. age 77, born England, wife Mary F. B. age 81, born India, William H. Mills age 30, servant NOTE: Census taker wrote “Behind Catholic Rectory” which is Bennett Hill and the private road to the house.

In 1942, Rhodes Greene Lockwood (1874-1942) died in Virginia and was buried in the Lockwood family cemetery in Boston, MA.

Also in 1942, Rhodes Greene Lockwood, Jr. (1919-1999) registered for the draft and entered the US Navy (communications from Rebecca Lockwood).

In 1943, Mary Ethel Frances Bannister died on August 4th in Blacksburg. She is buried in Westview Cemetery.

In 1951, William Wilkie Bennett died on June 10th in Blackburg. He is buried in Westview Cemetery.

Also in 1951, Frances Violet Jane Bennett Lockwood married Arthur Ballard Massey on August 28 in Maine. Arthur was a retired professor plant pathology and bacteriology Virginia Agricultural & Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute – VPI. Arthur died in 1981 and is buried in Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church Cemetery, Pendleton, Anderson County, SC.

Frances Violet Jane Bennett Lockwood Massey died on June 10th 1982 in Blacksburg. She was buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, US next to her first husband.

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