Joseph Alonza Bennett and Minnie Leanna Becraft
Husband Joseph Alonza Bennett [2942] 1
Born: 5 Apr 1867 - Maryland, United States 1 Christened: Died: 14 Oct 1944 - Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States Buried: - Clarksburg United Methodist Church Cemetery, Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 1 FamilySearch ID: 2SH9-TW5 Find A Grave ID: 90332839Marriage: 2 Jun 1910 - Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United StatesEvents
• Event: Washington Evening Star, 17 Feb 1898. GIVES UP HIS CHILD
Father Driven by insecurity to Relinquish Car of his son.
A man about thirty-five years old, carrying an infant in his arms and a big bottle of milk in his pocket, attracted the attention of passengers on the train from the Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad this morning. The man was Joseph Bennett, a farm laborer, who lives near Clarksburg, Montgomery county, who came to this city for the purpose of making some provision for the care of his infant son. A few minutes after the train arrived here he appeared in the office of Sanitary Officer Frank.
The stranger was closely questioned by the sanitary officer. He was asked if he expected the people of Washington to care for a Maryland child and also why he had not gone to Baltimore, a city in his own state. A friend who accompanied Bennett pleaded ignorance of such matters for him.
"He really didn't know what to do," said his friend, "and he came here because of the advice of neighbors."
Officer Wilson of the Humane Society, who deals with such cases, heard the conversation, and he, too, objected to having the infant become a charge upon the District.
But there was a sadder side to the story, and when this was heard, the officer could not refuse the request. The child had been born in the Montevue Asylum at Frederick, four months ago, the father said, and he had been required to take the infant from the institution. He had hired a woman to act as housekeeper and take care of the child, but she had taken to drink and he was left alone to care for the baby. This he could not do and go out to work at the same time, and as a last resort he had come here and was willing to relinquish all claim to the boy. This he found necessary, because he had received a letter from the asylum authorities informing him that his wife's mind wa still unimproved. He could get no hope that she would ever recover, and for reasons already stated he signed away all claim to the child.
Officer Wilson placed the infant in the Washington Foundling Hospital.• His obituary was published in the Frederick News-Post on 16 Oct 1944. JOSEPH BENNETT
Joseph Bennett, a retired resident of Gaithersburg, died Saturdayat the Frederick City Hospital, aged 77 years. He had been sick for some time and a patient at the hospital a few days. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Minnie M. Bennett; four sons, Harry J. and Lewis Bennett, Chicago; Marshall W., Boyds, and Harold, with the AAF in England; three daughters, Mrs. Edith Etchison and Mrs. Ella Hawkins, Rockville, and Mrs. Marjorie Dillihay, Boyds, and a sister, Mrs. Addie Ward, Barnesville. The body is at the funeral home in Laytonsville. Services Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock in the Clarksburg church with Rev. Carl G. Newell and Rev. Thomas Morgan officiating. Interment in the church cemetery. Roy W. Barber, funeral director.
Wife Minnie Leanna Becraft [410]
Born: 30 Nov 1882 - Mongtomery Co, MD Christened: 23 Nov 1894 - Home Of Parents Died: 27 Feb 1961 - Maryland, United States 1 Buried: - Clarksburg United Methodist Church Cemetery, Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States FamilySearch ID: LKVX-1YJ Find A Grave ID: 209030458
Father: George R. Becraft [282] (Cir 1830- ) Mother: Ellen Jane Roberts [408] (1862-1938)
Events
• She was baptized on 23 Nov 1884.
• Her obituary was published in The News (Frederick MD) on 28 Feb 1961. MRS. ALONZA BENNETT
Mrs. Minnie Bennett, 76, wife of the late Alonza Bennett, of Clarksburg, died Monday morning at the Victor Cullen Hospital.
She is survived by the following: Two daughters, Mrs. Marjorie Dillehay and Mrs. Ella Hawkins, both of Boyds; two sons, Marshall Bennett, Clarksburg and Harold Bennett of Takoma Park, and 11 grandchildren.
Friends may call at the William B. Hilton Funeral Home in Barnesville. Services will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Clarksburg Methodist Church. Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery.Marriage Events
• Marriage: The News, 3 Jun 1910. Bennett - Becraft
Joseph A. Bennett, of Boyds, and Minnie L. Becraft, of Dickermon, were married at the M. E. parsonage, yesterday by Rev. E. H. Lamar.
Children
1 M Marshall Upton Bennett [4451] 2
Born: 13 Aug 1911 - Montgomery, Maryland, United States 2 Christened: Died: 3 Jul 1978 - Olney, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 2 Buried: 5 Jul 1978 - Clarksburg United Methodist Church Cemetery, Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States Find A Grave ID: 36143417Spouse: Della Ethel Sonifrank 2 [4452] (1915-1968)
2 F Marjorie May Bennett [4453] 2
Born: 29 May 1913 - Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 2 Christened: Died: 29 Jan 1986 - Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 2 Buried: 1986 - Clarksburg United Methodist Church Cemetery, Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 3 FamilySearch ID: L6NY-1RK Find A Grave ID: 36143466Spouse: Earl Bryan Dillehay Sr 2 [4454] (1908-1989) Marr: 14 Feb 1932 - Boyds, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 3
3 F Ella Lucille Bennett [4455] 2
Born: 12 May 1916 - Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 2 Christened: Died: 28 Mar 1988 - Olney, Montgomery, Maryland, United States Buried: 1 Apr 1988 - Clarksburg United Methodist Church Cemetery, Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States FamilySearch ID: GJPC-HWD Find A Grave ID: 36143492Spouse: Hillery Eugene Hawkins 2 [4456] (1913-1990)
4 M Harold Milton Bennett [4457] 2
Born: 6 Oct 1919 - Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 2 4 Christened: Died: 19 Oct 1966 2 Buried: - Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Fairfax Co, VA FamilySearch ID: GLV9-51D Find A Grave ID: 49120614Spouse: Beulah Virginia Buracker [17393] (1925-1989) Marr: 1942
5 F Pearl Virginia Bennett [4458] 2
Born: 5 May 1922 - Boyds, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 2 Christened: Died: 30 Sep 1943 - Boyds, Montgomery, Maryland, United States 2 Buried: - Clarksburg United Methodist Church Cemetery, Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland, United States FamilySearch ID: GF5G-78Q Find A Grave ID: 224090279Spouse: Thomas Oscar Hawkins 2 [4459] (1910-1947)
Christening Notes: Wife - Minnie Leanna Becraft
GR & Ella J. Becraft, Rev. J.W. Steele, M.E. Church, Baltimore Conference, p. 114, Montgomery Circuit.
Burial Notes: Wife - Minnie Leanna Becraft
Plot M
1 Kathleen Dillehay (http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:923173&id=I42757716).
2 dillehay@gateway.net (Email 11/18/01).
3 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 Nov 2025), entry for Marjorie May Bennett, person ID L6NY-1RK.
4
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 Nov 2025), entry for Harold Milton Bennett, person ID GLV9-51D.
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