Alfred Samuel Bennett, who is living retired in Cheshire after many years devoted to the conduct of a meat business, was born in Camborne, Cornwall, England, May 25, 1858, and is a representative of an old and prominent family of the county, many of the name having held high positions there both in church and state. Moreover, the family has been granted a coat of arms and crest.

  The father of our subject, George Bennett, Jr., was also born in Camborne, a son of George Bennett, Sr., who passed his entire life in England. He was a landowner and a minister of the gospel. George Bennett, Jr., was educated in Cornwall and engaged in farming until 1882, when he removed to Cheshire, Connecticut. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Emma Edmonds, was also born in Cornwall, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Lanyon) Edmonds. She passed away in the faith of the Wesleyan Methodist church, in England, leaving six children: George, who is the local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church at Glenbrook, Connecticut, and has a son, George, who is of the seventh generation bearing that name, all eldest sons; Richard E., an Episcopal minister of Cincinnati, Ohio; William L. and Wesley, both ministers of Sussex, England; Alfred S.; and James, a meat dealer and a local preacher of South Meriden, Connecticut.

  Alfred S. Bennett received his education in the public and private schools of Cornwall and remained upon the home farm until he attained his majority. On the 25th of May, 1879, on his twenty-first birthday, he sailed for America, accompanied by his brother, James. Their ship docked at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and thence they removed to Chatham, Ontario, where they remained for a year. They then took up their home on a small farm in Cheshire, Connecticut, but two years later established a butcher business. They conducted a meat market and dealt in cattle in partnership in Cheshire Center until 1887, when the business connection was dissolved, James removing to South Meriden, while Alfred ran the old business. For many years he successfully conducted the butcher shop and also dealt in fertilizers and likewise engaged in farming to some extent. His energy and good management enabled him to look after his diverse interests and in addition to the lines of activity already mentioned he was for many years, beginning in 1893, engaged in auctioneering. By hard work and thrift he gradually added to his capital and has now acquired a competence which enabled him to retire in 1909.

  On the 9th of March, 1885, Mr. Bennett was married in St. Mabyn, Cornwall, England, while on a visit to that country, to Miss Annie Cleave, a native of St. Kew, of that county, and a daughter of Nicholas Thomas Cleave, of Lanow Barton, St. Kew. To this union have been born three children: Emma Jane, who studied instrumental music at Hackettstown, New Jersey, also graduated from the Yale School of Mr. Knight, and is now teaching music and resides at home; Evelyn Mary, a graduate of the Waterbury high school; and Milville C., who attended the Wesleyan University and is now a corporal at Camp Devens.

  Mr. Bennett is a stanch advocate of republican principles and for fifteen years was selectman, his continuance in that office being the best proof of his capability and faithfulness to trust. From 1903 to 1905 he represented his town in the legislature and in that larger field manifested the same excellent qualities that made him such a valuable town officer. He is a charter member of L. A. Thomas Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., of which he is past noble grand and on whose building committee he served when the new lodge home was erected, and he likewise belongs to Temple Lodge, No. 16, A. F. & A. M., of Cheshire. Both he and his wife belong to the Grange and he has been one of the most active members of that organization and for three years served as master. He is a consistent and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, for more than twenty-five years has been superintendent of its Sunday school, and has served as class leader and as chairman of the board of trustees. All movements for the advancement of the cause of righteousness and justice receive his hearty cooperation and his life’s efforts have been felt in many lines of activity as an influence for good.