George M. Benner was a self-made success story from Williams County, admired for his determination and ethical conduct in business. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Jacob and Irish-native Mary Benner in 1874, George moved to Ohio at a young age after his father’s death. He started his independent life as a farm laborer at 18 and eventually owned a thriving 60-acre farm where he focused on general farming and stock raising. On October 8, 1902, George married Mabel Thompson, and both were active in their Methodist Episcopal Church. Though politically active as a Republican, he did not seek office. George’s reputable character and business acumen earned him widespread respect in his community.
George M. Benner. — Clearly denned purpose and consecutive effort will inevitably result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in following out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible, and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have made Mr. Benner one of the prominent and successful men of Williams County have also brought him the esteem of his fellow men, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods.
George M. Benner was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on April 8, 1874, and he is the son of Jacob and Mary (Foley) Benner. The father was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and the mother was a native of Ireland, whence she came to the United States in young girlhood. They were married and at once settled in Tennessee, where they remained until the father’s death. Then the widow came to Defiance County, Ohio, where she lived until her death, which occurred in Montpelier. To Jacob and Mary Benner were born the following children: Fannie, the wife of Ellsworth Hillard, of Pioneer, Ohio; Ella, the wife of Emory Sellinger, of Wauseon, Ohio; Margaret, the wife of Elmer Replogle, of Jefferson Township, this county; Minnie, the wife of John Sawyer, of Auburn, Indiana; Jacob, of Bryan, and George M., the subject of this sketch.
George M. Benner was about two years of age when he was taken by his mother to Defiance County, and was nine years of age when he came to Williams County. During this period after they came to Ohio, the subject lived with his paternal grandfather, George Benner, and he received the advantage of a common school education. At the age of eighteen years he started in life on his own account, first as a farm laborer. Eventually he forged ahead and bought his present fine farm of sixty acres in Pulaski Township, where he has since resided and where he has given his attention to general farming and stock raising. Industrious and painstaking, he has persevered in his efforts and today is considered a man of good judgment and wise discrimination as a businessman. He keeps his place in excellent order and the permanent improvements are of a substantial and attractive character. Mr. Benner was married, on October 8, 1902, to Mabel Thompson, who was born at Fayette, Ohio, and who received a good education in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Benner are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the activities of which they take a prominent part, Mr. Benner being a trustee of the church at Pulaski and superintendent of the Sunday school. Politically, he gives his support to the republican party and takes a proper interest in the public affairs of the community, though he is not in any sense an aspirant for public office. Because of his business success and his excellent qualities of character, he enjoys to a marked degree the confidence and good will of the entire community.
Source: Bowersox, Charles A. ed. A standard history of Williams County, Ohio: an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development , 2 vols. Publisher Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1920.