William Weaver Bennett
William Weaver Bennett (February 4, 1841 – June 13, 1912) chaired the three-man township committee at the formation of Teaneck, New Jersey, making him the first Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey.[1][2]
William Weaver Bennett | |
|---|---|
 Bennett circa 1900 | |
| Born | February 4, 1841 Derbyshire, England |
| Died | June 13, 1912 Teaneck, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | British American |
| Occupation | Politician |
Biography
Bennett was born in Derbyshire, England on February 4, 1841.[3] When six months old, his parents came to America to live in Binghamton, New York, where the father died around 1853.[3]
At the age of 17, he met John Stewart Wells, of Binghamton, New York, and he became an apprentice carpenter.[3] He stayed with him three years.[3]
After working for a time at his trade at home, he enlisted as a mechanic, in the American Civil War, in 1862, and stayed with the army in one capacity or another, with the construction and repair work on railways, going to Alexandria, Virginia then to Norfolk and Suffolk, Virginia. In 1863, he was assigned to the quarter-master's department and then was employed in the construction of barracks and prison houses, and in the manufacture of army furniture. After the Siege of Petersburg and the capture of Richmond, Virginia, he applied for his discharge papers.[3]
He moved to Teaneck and built a series of row houses and then became the property manager for William Walter Phelps.[1][4][5] He was the first Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey from 1895 to 1909.[1][4]
Bennett died on June 13, 1912 in Teaneck, New Jersey at the age of 71. He was buried at Brookside Cemetery, Englewood.
References
- "The Father of Teaneck. William Weaver Bennett". The Bergen Record. October 20, 1995. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
... This and subsequent work in Englewood brought him to the attention to William Walter Phelps, Teaneck's post prominent and wealthy citizen. Phelps hired Bennett to act as superintendent of his Englewood Farm properties (as he called them), which amounted to some 2,000 acres. ... Before Teaneck broke away from Englewood in 1895, Bennett served as a town committeeman of that city as well as justice of the peace and Bergen County freeholder. Having also managed the Phelps' estate for 14 years, he was the obvious (and unanimous) choice to serve as Teaneck's first township committee chairman, roughly the equivalent of mayor and manager combined. ...
- Mildred Taylor. The History of Teaneck. p. 57. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
Early in 1895 an act was passed creating the Township of Teaneck from Englewood and Ridgefield Townships. An election was held on February 13, 1895. William Bennett, Phelps's overseer, headed the Citizens Ticket which won. Others on the team were Peter I. Ackerman and Henry J. Brinkerhoff. ...
- James M. Van Valen (1900). "William W. Bennett". History of Bergen County New Jersey.
William W. Bennett, Superintendent of the Phelps Estate in Bergen county; was born in England, February 4, 1841. When six months old his parents came to America and located at Binghamton, New York, ...
- "Teaneck's History". Teaneck, New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2009-08-03. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
The Township of Teaneck was established on February 19, 1895 and was comprised of parts of Englewood, Hackensack, Ridgefield Park, Bergen Fields and Bogota. William W. Bennett, overseer of the W.W. Phelps Estate, chaired the three man Township Committee (later replaced by a seven member Town Council)....
- Elizabeth S. Sample (March 1, 1930). "Historical Sketch of Teaneck". Times Review.
On Teaneck road, just north of the Public Library, is the home of Harry Bennett whose father, William Bennett, in 1882 came to Teaneck and until his death lived in the house now owned by his son. Mr. Bennett for years was Superintendent of the Phelps estate. Mrs. Frank De Ronde, who lives in Teaneck, is a daughter of Mr. William Bennett.