BIO: Benton, Peter - Mercer Co

History of Pike and Dubois Counties, Indiana
Chicago:  Goodspeed Bros. & Co., Publishers, 1885

Pike County, Washington Township, page 386

PETER BRENTON, one of the oldest native residents of Pike County, was born
February 18, 1819.  He received but little education in youth, partly
owing to his dislike of school.  Previous to his marriage, he followed
various occupations such as wool-carding, flat-boating, etc.  December 23,
1841, he married Nancy Tislow and soon after located on eighty acres of his
present farm.  He now has 200 acres of well improved land.  He is the father
of six children, three of whom, Helen A., widow of Daniel Hawkins, John and
Wesley are living.  Mr. Brenton is the youngest child of Peter Brenton, in
whose honor Petersburg was named.  The later was born in Mercer County, Ky.,
and came to this county about the beginning of the present century.  His
principal business was that of farming, though he at one time, ran a carding
machine in Petersburg.  When the seat of justice of Pike County was selected
he gave the greater part of the land for the site.  He was a man of consider-
able ability, and was one of the first commissioners of the county.  He was
twice married.  His first wife was Eleanor Smith who died in 1823.  About
three years later he married Elizabeth Johnson.  He was a member of the
militia during the war of 1812, and received a land warrant for his services.


From: "Phyllis Hill" 
<phill@redrock.net>
Date: Wed, 20 May 1998