Untitled From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 593

BENNETT W. NIEHAUS is one of the well-known veteran soldiers of the war of the Rebellion who are residents of Fennimore, Grant county. Mr. NIEHAUS was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 4, 1845, a son of Herman NIEHAUS, and eleven years later the family came to Wisconsin, locating in Platteville, where the elder NIEHAUS found work at his trade as a merchant tailor. He died in Platteville in 1861. His wife died before he left Germany. Four of the children accompanied him to the United States, Bennett W., Charles W., Minnie and Frederica May, all of whom are yet living except Minnie.

Bennett W. NIEHAUS learned the wagon-making trade at Platteville, in the shop of Alexander BUTLER, and was becoming an excellent workman when he determined to enlist, in 1864. In May of that year he became a member of Company A, 41st Wis V.I., which became a part of the Western Army, and was engaged most of the time in guard and garrison duty. His first term of enlistment expiring, our subject re-enlisted, in January, 1865, as a member of Company K, 47th Wis. V.I. He served in the Army of the Tennessee, in the rear of Gen Sherman. Mr. NIEHAUS was finally discharged from the service in September, 1865, and came back to Wisconsin much broken in health, but proud of the fact that he had been permitted to fight for the nation that had welcomed him as a son. He brought out of the service a severe case of hernia, the results of some painful injuries received while on duty, and he has never fully recovered.

Mr. NIEHAUS came back to Platteville, and resumed work at his trade. In 1866, he removed to Annaton, Grant county, and thence to Danville, Ill., only remaining fourteen months at that point, however, and returning to Annaton. There he made his home until 1870, when he became a resident of Fennimore, and here he has since carried on wagon-making and repairing, with a good patronage and many friends throughout that part of the county.

Mr. NIEHAUS married Miss Mary SCHMIDT, and they have one son and one daughter. Their daughter, Minnie, is the wife of Albert WEBER; and their son, Charles J., is a drug merchant at Fennimore. Mr. NIEHAUS belongs to Sam Monteith Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Fennimore, and is popular among its members. He was a good soldier in the war for the Union, and is a worthy and respected citizen at home.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck