"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. 358-359.  
Used by permission.  [Daviess]

JOHN BRYANT BENTON, D.D.  Although he was never a pastor in this 
Association this history would be incomplete without giving an 
account of his life and labors.  He was born in McLean County, Ky., 
near Livia, on April 29, 1869, and was the son of William T. Benton.  
His father was a poor and uneducated man, but possessed a sterling 
character and strong intellect.  Young Benton had practically no 
opportunity for securing an education except as he made it.  He, 
nevertheless, made good use of all of his opportunities and as a 
result graduated from Bethel College in 1896 with the A.B. Degree and 
the Degree of A.M. in 1899.  He also received the Th.M. Degree from 
the Seminary at Louisville in 1900.
	Previous to his going to college he had made a profession of 
faith under the ministry of John A. Bennett, in December, 1884, and 
had been baptized into the fellowship of Green Brier Church.  This 
same church licensed him to preach an [sic] July 4, 1891.
	While in College he was called to the care of the Friendship 
Church in Logan County.  This Church also ordained him to the 
ministry in the year 1893.  From first to last he served the following 
Kentucky Churches: Friendship, Logan County, 1893-1896; Friendship, 
Warren County, 1893-1897; Mt. Pleasant, Logan County (Lewisburg), 
1893-1896; Rock Spring, Logan County, 1895-1897; Smith's Grove, Ky., 
1896-1901; Adairville, Ky., 1901-1904.
	In the year 1904 he was called to the care of the Church in 
Trenton, Mo.  After a service of six years in that city he accepted 
the care of the Compton Heights Church in St. Louis, Mo.  His life's 
labor was destined to end at middle age.  After two years in the St. 
Louis pastorate he was called to his reward on June 11, 1912.
	While at Smith's Grove a new church house was built at a cost of 
over $7,000.  He was also Moderator of Warren County Association for 
four years.  His pastorate at Trenton proved to be his crowning life 
work.  Some educational institution gave him the Degree of Doctor of 
Divinity but we do not have the record as to who it was.
	Sometime about the year 1893 he was married to Miss Myrtle Cook 
of McLean County.  This is the only record available concerning his 
family life.  John Bryant Benton, D.D., is Green Brier Church's gift 
in ministerial talent to the denomination.

Benton Bennett Cook
=
McLean Jefferson Logan Warren MO

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/benton.jb.txt