A Portrait and Biographical Record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind.,
A.W. Bowen, Chicago, 1895, page 460:

SERG'T NICHOLAS BENNETT, the genial and popular landlord of the "Rose House," and a veteran soldier, who served his country faithfully throughout the late Civil war, is a typical American soldier of the western type, tall, erect and manly looking, content to serve his country for his country's good. He springs from sturdy Pennsylvania Dutch stock.

Nicholas Bennett, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and settled in Warren county, Ohio, as a pioneer when a young man. He married and reared a large family, cleared up and made a fine farm, and became a prominent and leading man in his county. He lived to the age of eighty years, and died on his farm in Warren county, Ohio. He was the father of four children by his first wife — William, Mary, Abraham and Henry I. By his second wife he was the father of five children. Mr. Bennett was an old-fashioned pioneer American farmer, of sterling character, honorable, industrious, and respected by all.

William Bennett, the oldest son of above, was the father of our subject. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, on his father's farm, March 17, 181 8, was reared a farmer, and married in Warren county, Ohio, Emeline, daughter of John Cuddy, a farmer of Baltimore county, Md. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were born thirteen children — Sarah, Nicholas (our subject). Robert, Jane, Isaac N., Alderson, Henry, Mahala, Rachael, Dora Martha, and three who died in infancy.

Directly after marriage Mr. Bennett moved to Boone county, Ind., in the fall of 1838, and settled, in Clinton township, in the woods, on land which his father had entered for him. William Bennett and wife were members of the Methodist church for sixty years. Politically he was a democrat, until the formation of the republican party, when he became one of the original republicans of Boone county.

He was a strong Union man, and had two sons in the Civil war — Nicholas (see sketch below), and Alderson, who was in company H, Eleventh regiment Indiana cavalry, as a private and served two years. He was in several battles, among them Nashville, Tenn. He died at Eastport, Miss., from the effects of army life. William Bennett is still living on his farm, aged seventy-six years, still active and able to work. He has always been a strong, robust man, and a hard laborer throughout life. He has always stood high for true moral character, and integrity. His first wife died, and he married Mary M. Richardson, nee Graham, the widow of a soldier of the Civil war.

Nicholas Bennett, our subject, was born in Boone county, Ind., Clinton, township, on his father's farm, November 29, 1840, and was reared among the pioneer scenes of this county. He received a limited common school education, and learned to work on the farm. At the age of twenty years, he enlisted in company G, Eleventh regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry. Col. Lew Wallace and Capt. Gum Carr were his immediate officers. He enlisted for three years, or during the war, on July 23, 1861, at Thorntown, Ind. He served out this enlistment and re-enlisted as a veteran, at Madisonville, Ala., for three years or during the war, and served until July 26, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md. He was in the battle of Fort Henry, Tenn., Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Miss., Champion Hills, Miss., Big Black, Miss., siege of Vicksburg — lasting forty-seven days. He was also in the battles of Jackson, Miss., Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and many hard skirmishes. He was wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek, by a shell bursting in the air over his head, a piece of which struck him on both shoulders, making a slight wound.

Mr. Bennett was in all the battles, skirmishes, and marches of his regiment. At the battle of Champion Hills, company G lost twenty-five killed or wounded, and at Cedar Creek they also lost heavily. The sergeant was one of the first to respond to Abraham Lincoln's first call for 300,000 men, and served until his services were' no longer needed by his country. After this important service he returned home, and engaged in farming. He married, February 9, 1864, Mary, daughter of Caleb and Mariah (Roseyboom) Beach .

Mr. Beach is an old settler of Boone county, coming in 1852, and settling in Washington township; he is a substantial farmer, owning 200 acres of good land. He and wife are the parents of eight children — Joseph, Mary, Sarah, Emma, Clarkson, John, Addie (deceased), and Ananias. Mr. and Mrs. Beach were members of the United Brethern church. He is a republican in politics, and was a strong Union man, having one son in the war — Joseph. Mr. Beach was is well known for his honorable traits of character, and is an excellent citizen.

After marriage Mr. Bennett lived on a farm in Clinton township for one year, and then was engaged in the mercantile business in Mechanicsburg four years. He was also in the saw mill business in Kirklin five years, and came to Lebanon in 1886 and engaged in the hotel business, and is now landlord of the Rose House, which he conducts in an orderly and liberal manner, supplying a bountiful table, and keeping clean rooms. Fraternally, Mr. Bennett is a member of I. O. O. F., at Kirklin, Ind., the Red Men, Winnebago tribe, Lebanon, the G. A. R., Rich Mountain post, No. 42, and has held all the offices in his post, including commander. Politically he is a stanch republican. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have brought up two children — Alice Larkin and Alonzo Hoover. Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Presbyterian church. Sergeant Bennett was assessor of Clinton township, and also marshal of Kirklin for four years. He was one of the delegates to the county convention of 1894.