Chosen to succeed his father as a member of the board of directors of Wyoming National Bank, January 11, 1910; member of city council of Wilkes-Barre, 1905-1918; and a member of the Luzerne county bar, admitted in 1900.

R. NELSON BENNETT CRUSHED TO DEATH Prominent Citizen Instantly Killed When His Motor Car Skids and Overturns Near Stroudsburg When the automobile in which he was riding skidded and turned over on its side on the Milford Pike, four miles beyond Stroadsburg yesterday morning at 11:15, Attorney R. Nelson Bennett, aged 46, former city councilman and one of the city's most prominent residents, was instantly killed. Attorneys Lawrence B. Jones of this city, and John E. Jenkins of Kingston with John Hablett, Mr. Bennett's chauffeur, escaped with slight injuries when the large automobile skidded and turned. News of Mr. Bennett's sudden death yesterday afternoon cast a pall of sadness over the city. The sorrow with which the news of the accident was received was especially noticeable at city hall, where men who had worked with Mr. Bennett during his many years of service for the city were dumbfounded when told of his death. In a Pierce-Arrow automobile driven by John Hablett, Mr. Bennett, his brother-in-law, Lawrence B. Jones, and John E. Jenkins left this city yesterday morning at 9 o'clock for Middletown, Conn., to attend the week-end celebration at Wesleyan University, from which they graduated. Mr. Bennett was riding in the front seat of the automobile with the chauffeur. As the machine was being driven up Predmore Hill about four miles beyond Stroudsburg, it skidded on the macadamized road and turned over on its side against a bank. when the car was turned over Mr. Bennett's head was caught between the back of the front seat and the bank, and his skull was fractured. He died instantly. Shortly after the accident Dr. L. B. Smith of Bushkill, who came along while responding to a call, examined Mr. Bennett and announced that death had been instantaneous. The body was removed to the undertaking establishment of Kisor & Randall at Stroudsburg and late last night brought to this city and taken to his home, 110 South Franklin street, from where the funeral will be held. J. F. schoonover of Stroudsburg took Mr. Jones and Mr. Jenkins, attorneys, and the chauffeur to Stroudsburg in his automobile. At Stroudsburg, the two lawyers announced that they had been riding in the rear seat of the Bennett automobile. They said the automobile was traveling slowly and that they were at a loss to know how the accident occurred. They remained in Stroudsburg until last night and accompanied the body of Mr. Bennett to this city. News of the accident reached this city yesterday shortly after noon, when Mr. Jones telephoned to Z. Platt Bennett, brother of the unfortunate victim. Mr. Bennett was a member of one of the oldest families of Wyoming Valley. For more than fifteen years he was a leader in the civic affairs of Wilkes-Barre. He was prominent as a banker, a director of large industrial corporations, and in the development of the Chamber of Commerce. He was interested in hospital and welfare work and recently gained national prominence as general chairman of a committee to raise an endowment fund for Wesleyan University, his alma mater. Reuben Nelson Bennett was born in Kingston on December 12, 1875, the son of the late George S. and Ellen Nelson Bennett. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Reuben Nelson, who was president of Wyoming Seminary for many years. He was a grandson of the late Hon. Ziba Bennett. As a youth Mr. Bennett was educated in this city. He attended Hillman Academy and Wyoming Seminary. In 1893, Mr. Bennett entered Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., and graduated in 1897 cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He pursued the law course in the University of Pennsylvania, receiving the degree of L. L. B. in 1900. The same year he was a admitted to the Philadelphia and Luzerne County bars and in 1908 was admitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. During his college life he was interested in athletics and was active in foot ball and other sports. While a student at Wesleyan he ran on the track team and devoted much time to the athletics of his alma mater following his graduation. In 1904 Mr. Bennett became the fourth vice president of the Board of Trade, which preceded the Chamber of Commerce in this city. In the summer of 1905 Mr. Bennett became acting secretary of the organization for several months. He became so interested in this work that in 1906 he was made secretary of the organization which position he held for several years. Elected to City Council In April 1905, Mr. Bennett entered the select council of the city of Wilkes-Barre as the representative from the Seventh ward. On the retirement of George Smith, county commissioner, as a councilman, Mr. Bennett was made joint chairman of the finance committee of the city council. He held that position under the two forms of government until he declined to run for reelection to city council. In October 1905, Mr. Bennett introduced into the councils the concurrent resolution providing for the appointment of a committee to devise ways and means for the proper celebration of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Wilkes-Barre as a borough, and upon the organization of the general committee for the centennial, Mr. Bennett was elected general secretary. In that position in preparing for the jubilee on May 10, 11, and 12, 1905, he did earnest work. In August, 1906, Mr. Bennett prepared and introduced into councils the ordinance which created our present valuable park commision through which Wilkes-Barre has received gifts amounting to several hundred thousand dollars worth of valuable wooded park land. When the commission form of government was introduced in 1913, Mr. Bennett was elected a commissioner. When his term expired he was re-elected and served until 1920 when he retired from public office. At the time of his death he was head of the City Planning Commission. He was always deeply interested in anything that pertwined to the city's municipal affairs and took an active interest in city government. As chairman of the planning commission he was active in getting the State to select Wilkes-Barre and surrounding territory to work out a municipal plan. Mr. Bennett was one of the men instrumental in getting the commision form of government for Third class cities and with Joseph G. Schuler, Edwin B. Morgan, Charles N. Loveland and Moyor Kosek comprised the first city council under the change in city management. He was recognized as one of the most capable finance commissioners in the State of Pennsylvania. The reorganization of many of the city departments were due largely to Mr. Bennett's activity and ability. These reorganizations were effected in the treasurer's assessors', finance, purchasing and city clerk departments. While a councilman Mr. Bennett was active in the League of third class cities and worked for improvement of these cities. He was also largely instrumental in having the civil service rules adopted by Third class cities of the State. He was active in the development of Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, having served as director for several years after he resigned in 1910 as secretary of the organization. When the commission form of government went into effect in 1913, R. Nelson Bennett was put in charge of the accounts and finance department. This department controlled the following departments: City clerk, city controller, city treasurer and city assessor. Mr. Bennett was a man of wide experience. He was known in the world of finance as a man of keen executive ability. He was a director of Wyoming National Bank, Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Company and Hazard Manufacturing Company. He was a member of First M. E. Church, a trustee of Wyoming Seminary and a member of Westmoreland Club, Wyoming Valley Country Club and of Psi Upsilon Fraternity. He was president of Wyoming Valley Homeopathic Hospital and as such had arranged for the erection of a new four story addition that is to be started shortly. As a graduate of Wesleyan Mr. Bennett received a great honor two years ago in connection with the effort of the college to raise a three million endowment fund. In the midst of the campaign the first chairman resigned and Mr. Bennett was persuaded to undertake the chairmanship. He spent several months away from this city during that campaign, during which time he came in contact with the eminent educators of the country and the graduates of Wesleyan in the several States. Prior to the Wesleyan campaign Mr. Bennett was chairman of the campaign in this city and vicinity to raise funds for the Homeopathic Hospital of this city. Mr. Bennett was executor of the Bennett estate and was a trustee of Wesleyan University. The Bennett family history extends back to Colonial days. It was one of the ancestors, Frances Slocum, who when a young girl was captured by the Indians in this section. She lived among her captors until she became an old woman. She was called the lost sister of Wyoming. Among the first settlers of Wyoming Valley were the Bennetts, and when Wilkes-Barre had but five white women, three were Bennetts. Ismael Bennett of Connecticut came to Wyoming Valley in 1770. Isaac Bennett of Preston, Connecticut, came to Wyoming Valley in 1765 and bough a half share in the Susquehanna Company, which entitled him to 500 acres of land. The New York roster of soldiers in the Continental army of the Revolution includes the names of twenty-five Bennetts of near kinship to those who settled in Wyoming Valley. R. Nelson Bennett had an immense number of friends. Despite his numerous activities he was a home man and was fond of his children. He is survived by his wife, who was Miss Claire Raymond of Lawrence, N. J.; his mother, Mrs. Ellen Bennett, and two children, George Slocum Bennett and Claire Stillman Bennett. He is also survived by one brother, Z. Platt Bennett, and one sister, Mrs. Lawrence B. Jones.
The following tributes to the high character of Mr. Bennett were voiced following his death yesterday by men who served on city council and were associated with him during his many years of service to the city:
Mayor Daniel L. Hart: "In the death of R. Nelson Bennett, Wilkes-Barre loses one of its most progressive citizens. His heart was in the city and his chief concern was the city's progress. I have lost a valuable friend and advisor as mayor of the city."
Attorney Charles N. Loveland, who served with Mr. Bennett in city council for a number of years: "There was no one who always had the city's best interests at heart as much as R. Nelson Bennett. Whether in office or not, he was always striving to bring the city up to his ideal of what a city should be."
City Solicitor Charles F. McHugh: "I knew Mr. Bennett well. I saw very much of him during his fifteen years' service for the city. He was a man of high character. He did much for the city and was always interested in every movement for the benefit of Wilkes-Barre. He was one of the pioneers for parks and playgrounds--the Frances Slocum playground being the first in the city. This was donated by the Bennett family. I recall at one of the meetings when the purchase of the Mayflower field was before council he said 'I will not go along with the loan ordinance unless there is an appropriation made for parks.' He was a good citizen and an upright man who was always working for his native city and county."
City Councilman Martin C. Murray: "R. Nelson Bennett was a wonderful man and always had the best interests of the city at heart. He worked harder than any other man in the State for the commission form of government and was largely responsible for having it adopted. As a city councilman he was always ready to cooperate for the city's best interests."
Assistant City Solicitor Edwin B. Morgan: "I was a councilman with R. Nelson Bennett when the commision form of government went into effect. I always found Mr. Bennett to have a spirit of cooperation in handling municipal affairs. He was a man of great vision for the future welfare of the city."
City Councilman Joseph G. Schuler: "I served three terms in city council with Mr. Bennett and always found him to be a good, honest and capable official who always attended to duty and worked for the best interests of the city. No later than Wednesday afternoon he was in city hall going over matters pertaining to the city planning commission of which he was chairman."
City Councilman-elect Lewis P. Kniffen: "I served on city council for two years with R. Nelson Bennett and always found him to be an honest, upright, conscientious public official. His death is a loss to the community."
City Clerk Frederick H. Gates--"To learn of the sudden death of Mr. Bennett on my return to the office yesterday afternoon was a great shock to me, as it was on Wednesday afternoon that he, with City Solicitor McHugh and myself met in conference to arrange certain matters to be taken up by the planning commission of which he was chairman. During the fifteen years he served as a member of city council as joint chairman of the finance committee under the old form of government and as superintendent of accounts and finance under commission form of government. It was my pleasure to be closely identified with him. He was a painstaking and careful official and one who always had the welfare of the city at heart. In Mr. Bennett's death the city loses one of its formost citizens." Wilkes-Barre Record - 18 Nov 1921
NELSON BENNETT LAID AT REST Men From All Walks of Life Pay Tribute to Memory of Distinguished Citizen Holding the esteem of his fellow citizens in the last processional to the grave just as he had been the subject of public commendation in all the activities of his career, Attorney R. Nelson Bennett, former city official killed on Thursday in an automobile accident, was laid at rest in Hollenback Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. The funeral was held from the Bennett residence, 110 South Franklin street, and was attended by city officials, county officials and men prominent in all walks of life. Although the services at the Bennett residence did not begin until 2:30 the public tribute began at noon. At that hour all departments at city hall closed for the afternoon. Flags on the fire engine houses and all other city buildings and flags on many business places in the city were fixed at half mast until after the funeral was held. Rev. Leon K. Willman, pastor of First M. E. Church, and Rev. Dr. William arnold shanklin, president of Wesleyan, of which Mr. Bennett was a graduate and trustee, conducted the funeral services. Mr. Bennett's support of Wesleyan University and his service as head of the general committee to raise a $3,000,000 endowment fund for the institution formed the basis for a touching eulogy by the University president. The Rippard String Quartet played two numbers. The first was "O Holy Savior, Friend Unseen" and the other was "Faith of Our Fathers." The esteem in which Mr. Bennett was held was indicated by the many beautiful floral offerings. One of them was a massive blanket set-piece sent by city hall employees. It was made of chrysanthemums interspersed with asters against a background of ferns. The piece was made by employees of the park department from flowers grown in the municipal greenhouse, a project which Mr. Bennett fostered while a city councilman. The pall bearers were Elmer E. Buckman, Henry H. Derr, George R. McLean, Bayard Hand, Edwin Shortz, Jr., and Paul Bedford. Interment, which was private, was in Hollenback Cemetery. Wilkes-Barre Record - 21 Nov 1921