Killam Edgar Bennett
Killam Edgar Bennett
KILLAM EDGAR BENNETT was born on July 31, 1865 in Camden, NJ, the eldest child of Volney G. and Emmeline Bennett. His father, Volney Bennett Sr., operated a large lumber business in Camden with George A. Munger. After completing his education at the age of 23, Killam Bennett joined the business, and succeeded George A. Munger as a member of the firm. His brother, Volney Bennett Jr. also took part in the business.
Killam Bennett’s early years were spent at 310 North 6th Street in Camden. After his marriage in September of 1889 to Grace Bennett, of Scottsville, NY, Killam Bennett moved to “River avenue near Cooper avenue, n Cramer’s Hill” according to the 1890–1891 Camden City Directory.
Killam E. Bennett also was involved, along with William L. Hurley, George A. Munger, and Volney G. Bennett, in the incorporation of the Central Trust Company. This bank built a large building at 401 Federal Street, which is still standing. The bank advertised as “the most acceptable small bank known,” catering to “women’s accounts,” and kept Saturday evening hours for workers unable to bank during the week. He was a member of the Camden Club, the Camden Rotary Club, and was past president of the Camden Chamber of Commerce.
Like his father, Killam E. Bennett moved to Riverton, NJ, where he spent the later years of his life. At the time of the 1930 census he lived at 605 Bank Street with his second wife, Leona. He passed away on September 18, 1933 after a brief illness.
After many years in Camden, the family business, Volney G. Bennett Lumber, moved to Barrington, NJ, where it remains in business today.
Killam E. Bennett
Biographical Review — 1897
KILLAM E. BENNETT, of the firm of Munger & Bennett, wholesale lumber dealers of Camden, one of the leading lumber houses in the county, was born in Camden, July 31, 1865. He is a son of Volney G. and Emmeline (Davis) Bennett, the former a native of Pike County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Camden. Volney G. Bennett is one of the prominent business men of Camden, dealing in lumber at wholesale and retail, and has been in business for twenty years at the corner of Second and Cherry Streets. He is President of the Camden Board of Trade and of the Excelsior Building and Loan Association; the treasurer of two other building and loan associations; and he was one of the originators and is now a Director of the Real Estate and Investment Company of Camden.
Killam E. Bennett attended the public schools of Camden for the usual period, and then took a two years’ course of study at the South Jersey Institute in Bridgeton, N.J. At the age of twenty-three he was installed as manager of the lumber business of Munger & Brother, and three years later he succeeded George A. Munger as a member of the firm.
Biographical Review, 1897
This house has a large wholesale trade, handling North Carolina pine only. They own extensive timber lands in that State, and have a large saw-mill at Washington, N.C. Mr. Munger superintends the business in North Carolina, personally supervising the sawing and shipping, while Mr. Bennett attends to the trade in the North. Mr. Bennett is a man of more than ordinary business ability. Though still a young man, he has achieved such success as comes to most men only after years of trial and toil.
On September 25, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Grace G. Bennett, of Scottsville, N.Y., daughter of Otto and Miranda (Chapin) Bennett. In political matters he favors the Republican side, and is Chairman of the Township Committee of Pensauken. In religious belief he is an Episcopalian. He is widely known, and is a very popular member of society, his genial disposition and engaging manner winning friends wherever he goes.
Central Trust Company — 1906 Officers & Directors
From an 1906 City Directory ad for the Central Trust Company:
A. McCRACKEN, President
C. T. SHARPLESS, Vice-President
T. S. NEKERVIS, Treasurer
C. CHESTER CRAIG, Trust Officer
WILLIAM C. JONES, Solicitor.
Directors: A. McCRACKEN — T. S. NEKERVIS — CASPER T. SHARPLESS — CHARLES HELM — CHARLES BOSCH — FITHIAN S. SIMMONS — A. J. FULLMER — GEORGE A. MUNGER — MAHLON F. IVINS — JESSE W. STARR III — RICHARD F. SMITH — CONRAD SCHWOERER — W. LEONARD HURLEY — WILLIAM C. JONES — KILLIAM E. BENNETT
1915 Advertisement — Central Trust Company
Central Trust Company, 1915
Central Trust Company building, 1915
Riverton's Mayor Dies in Hospital
Camden Courier-Post —
Killam E. Bennett, Lumber Merchant, Former C. of C. President
Dies at 68
Riverton, Sept. 18.— Mayor Killam E. Bennett, 68, of 605 Bank Avenue, prominent retired lumberman and civic leader, died early today in University Hospital, Philadelphia, after a short illness.
Mayor Bennett, who was stricken more than a week ago while returning to his home from the Century of Progress, Chicago, was taken to the hospital Friday, and an operation was performed.
During the trip East, doctors were brought on the train at Cleveland and Washington to treat Mayor Bennett. Death was attributed to peritonitis, precipitated by a kidney ailment.
Mayor Bennett has served as Riverton’s chief executive for many years. He was Mayor of Riverton for many years and several years ago he retired from the office. In 1931 he was the unopposed Republican candidate to return to that office.
Bennett was a native son of Camden, where he was born in 1865, and received his education in the public schools.
When he was 18 he went to work for his father, Volney G. Bennett, in the capacity of “’tally boy” around the yards and office of the lumber establishment owned by his father at Second and Cherry streets.
When he reached his majority he associated himself in the lumber business with George A. and C. W. Munger. Two years later he purchased George A. Munger’s share in the business and for 10 years continued the partnership with C. W. Munger.
At Munger’s death Bennett took over the entire business. He retired from active business several years ago. He held membership in many lumber and lumber manufacturers’ associations.
In 1931 Bennett was president of the Camden Chamber of Commerce. Until his death he was a member of the Camden Club and the Camden Rotary Club.
He was chairman of the South Jersey Transit Commission in 1929, a commission instituted by the state legislature to survey traffic conditions in South Jersey.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed. He is survived by his wife, Leona Baldwin Bennett.