Thirteenth Generation

240. Thomas Decatur BENNICK was born on 23 Dec 1866 in Conover, Catawba County, North Carolina and died on 11 Apr 1925 in Bonne Terre, Saint Francois Co, Missouri.

His obituary in the Bonne Terre Star News Register, April 17, 1925 read as follows:
T. D. BENNICK PASSES TO REST; BELOVED BY ALL.
"The news of the death of Mr. T. D. Bennick, which occurred at Desloge last Saturday night [April 11, 1925], was received with great sorrow in Bonne Terre.
His health [sic death] was very sudden and occurred at the Alumni banquet directly after he had made a brief talk. Mr. Bennick was principal of the Desloge school.
The deceased was born in Conover, North Carolina on December 23rd, 1866. In his infancy he came to this state, settling at Gravelton, Wayne County, Mo., where he spent his childhood days. When fifteen years of age he joined the Lutheran church of which denomination he has been an active life-long member.
On July 24th, 1892, he was united in marriage to Anna Skaggs and to this union two children were born, one of whom died in infancy. He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and one son, W. E. Bennick [Walter E. Bennick] of Bonne Terre, Mo., two sisters, Mrs. William Senter of Twelveville, Mo., and Mrs. E. Cropper of Girard, Kansas.
For the past 36 years he has been actively engaged in school work. He received his education at Concordia College, Gravelton, Mo., and at the State Normal, Cape Girardeau, Mo. In order to be better equipped in his chosen profession, he took corresponding courses with the state universities of Missouri and Iowa and had contemplated work of this nature at the present time, having made these preparations last week. During his long period of activity he labored in the public schools of Wayne, Madison, Cape Girardeau and St. Francois counties. During this period he was superintendent of schools of Madison county from 1904 to 1908. The last nine years were spent in the Lead Belt. Seven years were spent in the Elvins school and the last two years at Desloge as principal. The subject in which he specialized were Latin and mathematics. Humble and unassuming as he was, his colleagues paid him the tribute of being one of the most efficient teachers in school circles in the state.
A memorial service was held for him Monday afternoon at the Desloge high school auditorium. The funeral services were held at the Lutheran church in Farmington Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 and were conducted by Rev. W. Keisker of Flat River Lutheran church, who spoke tenderly and beautifully of the life of the deceased, choosing for his text the following lines of the 9th Psalm, "I am now ready to be offered up and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the good righteous judge shall give to me at that day." The body was laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery near Farmington.
The esteem in which the deceased was held was evidenced by the large crowd of sorrowing friends who gathered to pay their respect and by the numerous floral offerings. Teachers of the Desloge school carried the floral offerings.
Not only is Prof. Bennick's death a great loss to his family, but to the community in which he lived and his death has cast a deep gloom that will linger long in the hearts of those who knew him.
To the bereaved relatives and friends we extend deep and abiding sympathy."

Thes obit for his wife, Anna B. (Skaggs) Bennick as given in the Lead Belt News, [Flat River, St. Francois County, Missouri, Wednesday, July 21, 1965] read as follows:
"Mrs. Anna B. Bennick, former area resident, died Monday night, July 19, 1965, at the Mineral Area Osteopathic Hospital in Farmington at the age of 94 years, 5 months and 3 days. She was the mother of the late Judge Walter Bennick of the St. Louis Court of Appeals.
A daughter of the late John and Sarah (Moser) Skaggs, she was born Feb. 16, 1871, at Gravelton, Mo. She was married to Thomas D. Bennick who died about forty years ago. Walter E. Bennick also preceded his mother in death. Survivors include a granddaughter, Mrs. David (Camille) Matthews of St. Louis, and a great-granddaughter, Patty. A niece of Mrs. Robert J. Thomas, Sr. of Flat River.
The body is in state at the Boyer Funeral Home in Desloge where chapel services will be conducted Thursday, July 22, at 1 p.m. by the Flat River Lutheran pastor, the Rev. Frank Duran. Interment will be in the Lutheran Cemetery at Farmington under the direction of C. Z. Boyer & Son, Desloge."

Thomas Decatur BENNICK, a school teacher in in Poplar Bluff, Butler, Missouri, and Anna SCAGGS were married on 24 Jul 1892. They had the following children: