Aholiab Bentley,
the youngest of the [Benjamin Bentley] family, was born May 22, 1807,
near Sharon, Mercer County, Pa., and died at Portsmouth, Ohio, December
26, 1891.
When a year old he removed with the family to Trumbull
County, Ohio. His education was of the kind afforded by the common
schools of the day, but his experiences in the pioneer times was a mine
of education which he worked to the fullest capacity. At the age of 20
he taught school in Warren County, Ohio, and then for a time he was a
merchant in Youngstown. In 1846 he established an iron furnace in
Gallia County. Ohio, known as Gallia Furnace, which he operated for
eleven year. He was also interested in the Eagle Furnace. Having
acquired a comfortable fortune, he removed in 1853 to Portsmouth, where
he resided during the remainder of his life. Here he held prominent
positions in business and social circles, being a member of the city
council for some time, and occupying other positions of public trust.
He
was twice married, first in 1830 to Mrs. Mary Ann Dennis McCalla, of
Brown County, who died April 8, 1836. By this marriage there were two
children: Morrison, who is a farmer and real estate agent at Salem,
Oregon [in 1897], and Martin Corwin, who was accidentally killed in
1854 at the age of 21 years. The second marriage was in 1840 with Jane
Linn, daughter of Ebenezer Linn of Brown County, Ohio, and to them five
children were born. Laura Jane and Mary Ellen, who married brothers, C.
P. and R. M. Lloyd. Both are now widows and reside with their children
in Portsmouth, Ohio. Linn Bentley, the oldest son, like his father is
an iron manufacturer and resides with his family in Columbus, Ohio. The
son, Benjamin, resides at Jackson, Ohio, [1897] and Franklin died in
infancy.
Aholiah Bentley was identified with the Methodist
Church for over 50 years and held various positions of honor and trust
in the 6th Street Methodist Church of Portsmouth, Ohio.
He was a
man of sterling integrity and left to his children the priceless
heritage of an unblemished name. So with all the Bentleys as far as
known, a good name has been their continuous inheritance.
"Of six preceding ancestors, that gem
Conferred by testament to the sequent issue,
Hath it been owned and worn.
It is an honor belonging to our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy in the world
In me to lose."
Shakespeare.
Source: (The Bentley Family, General Roeliff Brinkerhoff, Mansfield, Ohio. 1897)
History of Mercer County, 1888, pages 1177-78
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