Bennington in 1875.
Bennington in 1875.
Three New Yorkers, Samuel Nickols, Israel Parsons and Benjamin Powers, made the first government land purchases here in 1835. Mr. Nickols became the first actual settler. Bennington was organized in 1838 with Lemuel Castle as its first supervisor, the township was named after Bennington, Vermont where some of the early settlers had lived. A Post Office was opened here on Dec. 13, 1848, with Benjamin Davis as it's first postmaster.
According to Arden R. Hudson, his grandfather, William Hudson, ran the general store / gas station / post office in Bennington. "The building still stands, as far as I know. It sits on the Northwest corner of Bennington and Ruess Rds., in Bennington".
He ran the store from 1927 to 1960, being postmaster of the Bennington Post Office from 1927 to 1957 when the post office made him retire. He retired, selling the store in 1960.
"I remember him having the old hand pump gas pumps, then converting to electric pumps in the later years".
A few houses remain.