Livingston County, Kentucky has produced a
number of prominent people, one of whom was Caswell Bennett, chief justice of
the Kentucky Court of Appeals from 1878 until his death in Hopkinsville,
Kentucky on 9 August 1894. The story of
his life can be found in area newspaper obituaries shortly after his death.
Caswell
Bennett was born August 27, 1836 in Halifax County, Virginia. His father,
Ambrose L. Bennett, was a lawyer, and
for many years a farmer in that county. He was of Scotch-Irish origin. Judge
Bennett was liberally educated in the neighborhood schools and at Millwood
College, in Tennessee, under James B. Rains, who became a general in the
Confederate army and was killed in the battle of Murfreesboro.
He commenced
the study of law at Lebanon, Tenn., subsequently read with Judge Joseph R.
Underwood of Bowling Green and finished
his legal preparation with Hon. F.H. Bristow.
In 1857 he was admitted to practice. His first office was at Smithland,
in Livingston County, where he has ever since continued to hold his
residence. Very soon he became known as
one of the best lawyers in that region. In 1867 he was elected circuit judge of
the third judicial district, holding the position six years, whereupon he was re-elected
without opposition.
In 1870 he
was a candidate for a seat on the appellate bench, but was defeated by Judge
Lindsay. Eight years later he was again a candidate and was elected. He
continued to serve and at the time of his death was presiding chief justice of
the state's highest tribunal. Recently he secured the nomination to again
succeed himself.
He was
married in 1868 to Miss M.T. Cruce, of Smithland. She died a number of years ago and Judge Bennett was again married
in 1886 to Miss Mollie Crumbaugh, of Lyon County, who survives him. Two
children, a son and daughter, were born of the first marriage, and a daughter
of the last, and all are living.
Justice
Bennett's remains were conveyed to the statehouse where they were to lie in state
until the funeral. All state offices were closed during the day of the funeral.
He is buried in Frankfort Cemetery.
Sources:
"At the
State Cemetery Remains of Judge Bennett will Probably Be Buried," Evansville Courier, 10 Aug 1894, p. 1.
"The
Dead Jurist," Evansville Courier,
11 Aug 1894, p. 1.
Published 2 September 2016, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
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