"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 
1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone. Probably published in 1944 by 
Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky,  pp. 287-289.  
Used by permission. [Daviess]

JOHN ALEXANDER BENNETT:  In the passing away of John Alexander 
Bennett on July 29, 1931, the Baptists of this section of the State 
of Kentucky lost a very faithful leader.  For more than a generation 
his wise leadership had moulded (sic) the life of Baptists in the 
Green River Country.
	Brother Bennett was the son of another eminent Baptist preacher.  
Dr. William Perry Bennett, whose sketch immediately follows.  He was 
born in the little village of Spottsville, Henderson County, Kentucky, 
on November 8, 1853.  His father at the time was a practicing 
physician.  In 1854 he was taken by his parents to Yelvington in 
Daviess County, where Brother Bennett grew to manhood.
	He received a common school education in his native counties and 
later attended Bethel College in Russellville, Ky., and the Southern 
Baptist Seminary in Louisville.  He was a painstaking student all of 
his life and rendered invaluable service in assisting his younger 
brethren in the ministry.  In his youth he was converted and united 
with the New Hope Baptist Church in Muhlenberg County.  Even in his 
young life he was active in the work of his church.  In the year 1872 
he became a charter member of the Island Baptist Church.  In the year 
1880 we find him a member of the Birk City Church (now Stanley Church) 
by which he was licensed to preach on December 18, 1880.  This same 
church ordained him to preach on September 17, 1882.  Elders W. P. 
Bennett, J. S. Coleman, D. E. Yeiser, and B. F. Jenkins composed the 
ordaining council.  From that date until his retirement in 1927 he was 
faithfully engaged in the preaching of the Gospel.
     His first pastorate was at Green Brier in Daviess County, which 
he served from 1882 to 1892.  He also served Station 1885-1889; 
Calhoun 1886-1887; Macedonia 1887-1888; Pleasant Grove 1889-1902, 
1913, 1919-1925; Princeton, Ky., 1883-1894; Bethel, Fairview, Ky., 
1892-1900; Pewee Valley 1900-1905; Buck Creek 1906-1924; Red Hill 
1910; Woodward's Valley 1908-1912, 1914-1926; Walton's Creek 
1914-1926; Mt. Carmel 1911-1914; and Central Grove 1912.
     While he was pastor at Fairview the church was moved from its 
former site to the present location to make room for the Jefferson 
Davis Memorial.  The family of Jefferson Davis had previously donated 
the ground on which the church was built.  The church is still nearby.
     We are indebted to Brother Bennett for his marvelous sketches of 
the Histories of the Green Brier, Buck Creek, Station, and Walton's 
Creek Churches.  We used the sketches extensively in compiling the 
histories of these churches.  Those of the Buck Creek and Walton's 
Creek churches were printed in pamphlet form.
     Brother Bennett was noted for his long connection with the 
Baptist Ministers' Aid Society of Kentucky.  He served this Society 
as Secretary for two years, as President for eight years, and as a 
member of the executive board for over thirty years.  From 1915 
through 1925 he served the Daviess County Association as Moderator.  
Upon his retirement from the chair in 1925 he was elected Honorary 
Moderator for Life.  This is the only instance where this honor was 
ever conferred upon any of the brethren.  He preached the Annual 
Sermon before the body in 1883 and again in 1912.  On the occasion 
of his having completed forty years of active service in the ministry 
the Stanley Church presented him with a silver loving cup which is 
still in the possession of his widow.
     The ministry of this man of God was notable.  He was a superb 
pastor.  He rendered an unusually effective ministry to the souls and 
homes of his pastorates, which cannot be measured in its influence.  
He brought comfort, encouragement, counsel, instruction, and reproof 
to those in need of help.  He led the children to Christ, married the 
young men and women, reclaimed the wayward, and buried the dead, all 
with a spirit that anchored the spirit of his people and pointed them 
to holy living.
     Again, he was a faithful preacher.  Into his preaching he brought 
a masterful knowledge of the bible.  The great fundamental doctrines 
of the Scriptures were his favorite themes, and these he declared with 
under-standing and courage and zeal and power.
     He also rendered a signal service to the Baptist Denomination as 
a whole.  He was a recognized leader in and a loyal supporter of its 
benevolent and missionary work.  In the Associations where he served 
he was tireless in his efforts to enlist the people more worthily in 
the great causes fostered by the denomination.  And of his own means 
he never failed to contribute cheerfully, even to the point of genuine 
sacrifice.
     As a man, Brother Bennett was fearless in his defense of the 
right, broad in his intellectual ability, humble in his attitude, and 
devout in his life.  He lived sacrificially and died trumphantly [sic].
During the last four years of his life he was unable to carry on 
in the active work but his spirit was still with the Baptist cause.  
He finally passed away in July, 1931.  His funeral was preached from 
the Utica Baptist Church to which he belonged by Rev. Clifton J. Allen 
and Rev. Norris Lashbrook.  His remains were interred in the Elmwood 
Cemetery in Owensboro, Ky.
	By his first wife Brother Bennett had two sons.  One, Clay O. 
Bennett, became a minister of the Gospel.  His first wife died in 1922 
and he married Miss Pearl Turner in 1924.  She still survives him.  
Many keen and disappointing experiences were carried by Brother 
Bennett in life but death brought an end to them all.  He bore them 
with patience and submission to the will of God.  John Alexander 
Bennett served his generation well and fell on sleep.  May God raise 
up many soldiers of the Cross to take his place.

Bennett Coleman Yeiser Jenkins Allen Lashbrook Turner
=
Henderson-KY Muhlenberg-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/bennett.ja.txt