UPSHUR COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA 
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook 
vfcrook@earthlink.net
July 4, 2000
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 413
Upshur

VERNON LEE BENNETT is a veteran business man of Rock
Cave, Upshur County, where for nearly forty years he has
conducted a jewelry store.

Mr. Bennett was born in Lewis County, West Virginia,
May 6, 1861, son of James M. and Jemima S. (Wilson)
Bennett. His father, a native of Lewis County and a
tanner by trade, was a first cousin to Judge George Ben-
nett and Lewis Bennett. Vernon Lee Bennett grew up on
a farm at Glady Fork, received a common school educa-
tion, and found his interests and activities centered in
the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age.

On April 15, 1884, Mr. Bennett began business at Rock
Cave by opening a small stock of jewelry merchandise. He
has been in business ever since, making his store respon-
sive to the new ideas and developments of the community,
is owner of a prosperous business, also has 100 acres of
land in Lewis County, and derives a valuable income from
a seven-acre peach orchard.  His material prosperity is
only a merited reward of so many years of work and
management, and at the same time he enjoys the complete
respect and confidence of his old friends and associates
here.

December 11, 1890, Mr. Bennett married Delia V. Boggs,
a sister of Robert C. Boggs, the hotel proprietor at Rock
Cave. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South, in which Mr. Bennett is a
trustee, steward and a member of the Official Board. He
is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Junior Order
United American Mechanics, and votes as a democrat, but
has had no desire at any time to hold office.