BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 618-619.

SOLOMON BENTLEY

Solomon Bentley, a prominent citizen of Richland township, was born in St.
Clairsville, in 1826. He is the son of Solomon Bentley, who was born in
Jefferson county, Va., was a grandson of Solomon Bentley, the first of
the three of that name, who was born in the Old Dominion, March 16, 1754,
and died November 2, 1838. He was the son of William and Margaret Bentley.
The wife of the first Solomon was Rebecca Wood, daughter of Joseph and
Catharine Wood, and the mother of the subject of this mention was Margaret
Nichol, the daughter of John and Anna Nichol. The first Solomon Bentley
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his son, the father of the
subject of this sketch, served in the war of 1812 with such gallantry that
he was promoted major, a title by which he was afterward known. Maj. Bentley
came to St. Clairsville in or about 1804, and established a blacksmith shop,
which he continued until 1829, when he bought and removed to the farm his
son now occupies. He was one of the most prominent public men of the county,
a leader in the whig party, and was never unsuccessful in any candidacy for
office except once, when the county was strongly democratic and he made no
contest. He served on the board of equalization and held the offices of
recorder, sheriff, two terms, auditor, treasurer, commissioner, and repre-
sentative. He was born July 25, 1783, and died May 7, 1865. The subject of
this sketch was reared on the farm he now holds, and on February 12, 1850,
was married to Ellen Thompson, who was born in 1826, the daughter of James
and Margaret (Clark) Thompson. By this union he has had eleven children,
nine of whom are living: Anna M., James T., Elizabeth E., Sarah J., Agnes B.,
David Ross, Samuel E., Solomon M. and Frank T. Mr. Bentley and wife are
members of the United Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder. In
1870 he served as land appraiser. Mr. Bentley is a successful farmer and
owns a fine farm of 163 acres.