Pike County Missouri Obituaries

Obituary from The Louisiana Press Journal,
Louisiana, MO
July 27, 1934:

LOUISIANA MOURNS PASSING OF O.P. BENNING

Death of City's native son, who had long an successful business career and who won friendship and esteem of people brings great loss to community.

O. P. Benning, Christian gentleman, business man, civic worker, exemplary citizen and close friend of scores of people who have felt the need of a friend, died in the Pike County Hospital, Thursday, July 26th. at 6:30 o'clock A.M.

He had been a patient there about thirteen days, having been admitted a week ago last Saturday. Before being taken to the hospital, he was under care of a specialist in St. Louis for a short time. His condition was regarded as critical for several days immediately preceding his passing, and his family had little upon which to build hope for his recovery. He had not been in robust health for several years, but up until a few weeks ago was able to supervise the management of his store on Seventh street, most of the work of which was done by trusted helpers.

Funeral services will be conducted in the late home on Frankford Road at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, July 28, The Rev. E.E. Gwatkin of Belton, Mo. formerly pastor of the First Baptist Church of Louisiana, of which deceased was a devout member, will be in charge. He will be assisted by Rev. Charles King of Louisiana.

Officers and members of Perseverance Lodge, No. 92, A.M. & A.M. have charge of arrangements for the funeral and will conduct a ritualistic service at the graveside in Riverview Cemetery, where interment will take place. As a mark of respect for Mr. Benning all grocery stores in Louisiana will close for one hour--from 3 till 4 o'clock, and acting Mayer Tully has issued a proclamation asking all places of business to close for the funeral.

O. P. Benning was an example of what a poor boy, with no advantages but his own determination to succeed, can do provided he possesses brains, perseverance and a faculty for hard work. During his school vacations he had been working for J.M. Allen as a delivery boy, and after his graduation he entered the grocery store as a clerk. He remained there as head clerk for one year and then employed as manager of a grocery business owned by Mrs. A. D. Sisson. After seven months at this work and a few months in the office of Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Company, he decided that he wanted to go into business for himself. He opened a grocery store at the corner of B Street and Frankford Road in partnership with Mr. Angell, as Angell & Benning. Although he had no capital the community had such a high opinion of him that credit was liberally extended several times, But in 1896 Mr. Benning was able to buy out the interest of the man who was his partner at that time, and in 1900 he moved to the corner of Seventh and A. Streets. he occupied a rented building for several years and later built a one-story structure, twenty by sixty feet, and containing three rooms. Under the careful and efficient supervision of the proprietor the Benning store for years has maintained a very high standing among the business enterprises of the city. The store has enjoyed the splendid patronage which it has deserved.

Olaus P. Benning was born in Louisiana, May 26, 1871, and was 63 years, 2 months, and 4 days old at the time of his death. He obtained his education in the city school and was graduated from high school with the same class of 1889. The class of which he was a member was made up of three boys and ten girls. The other male members of the class were Drue Parks of Hannibal and Ernest Hassler of Fresno, Calif. He was a son of Levi F. Benning and Louisa M Headrick, who was born in Knox County, Tenn,, in 1832, being a daughter of John B. Headrick, who was a revolutionary war solder. His father Levi Benning, was born in Virginia in 1820 and died in this city in 1890. he served many years as city sexton. His grandfather Dr. John Benning, was the first member of the family to come to this country from England, November 15 1890, Mr Benning was married in Louisiana to Miss Lena W. Davis and they had one son, Davis, who is serving his first term as prosecuting attorney of Pike County and whose career in the legal profession gives promise of measuring up to the high standard of success attained by his father in commercial life. Mrs. O.P. Benning, who with the son, survives, is a daughter of E.J. and Melissa Angle Davis, of this city. He also leaves two grandchildren, O.P. Benning, Second and John Davis Benning of Louisiana, one brother, Thomas H. Benning. of Hannibal and four sisters, Mrs., Curtis Mahan of Kansas City, Mrs. Alice Sanders of Marshall, Mo., and Mrs. Elmer Jennings of Levenworth, Kansas.

O.P. Benning was a man of high principals and character and has through his long business career enjoyed the esteem and respect of his business associates and the general public. his work was regarded as good as a bond. he was generous and during the past several years during which time some of his patrons and old friends and acquaintances felt the blighting effect of the depression he extended every courtesy and consideration in his power to help tide them over until the hoped for better times might return. Mr. Benning for several years had been president of the Louisiana Building and Loan Association; was a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Louisiana and was associated with W.J. Garner and J.C. Pribe in the ownership of the Louisiana Milling Company, which company he had been connected for many years. He served three consecutive terms as associate judge of the county court for the Eastern District of Pike County. He was elected for the third term in November, 1926, and began the term January 1, 1927, at which time his son, Davis began his official career as assistant to prosecuting Attorney Frank Duvall of Clarksville, who was elected prosecuting attorney in November 1926. Judge Benning's record on the county court bench was without a blemish. he was fair and considerate in all his dealings and retired from public office with the highest esteem of the people of the county whom he served faithfully and well. Judge Benning was a member of the city council and served two terms as mayor pro tem, one term of which was by appointment and one to fill out a unexpired term. Mr. Benning was a 32ed degree Mason having for years held membership in Perseverance Lodge No. 92, A. F.& A.M. He was a member of the Masonic Temple association which built the magnificent temple here several years ago. A member of Missouri Consistory No. 1. in the Cally of St. Louis, Orient of Missouri, and Moolah Temple. A.A.O.N.M.S. St. Louis, also of Louisiana Lodge No..28, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and for several years was a member of the Louisiana Rotary Club. He gave up his membership in the club when his health began to fail several years ago. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. He was a liberal contributor to all movements that had for their purpose the bringing of new industries to the city of Louisiana. He was deeply interested in helping solve the unemployment situation which has arisen within the past few years. During the World War, Judge Benning assisted materially in all drives, including the Red Cross, Liberty Loan, etc. He was a generous contributor to all activities which required substantial aid to carry them through.