BOOK - COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY & BIOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA, PUBLISHED 1902. Bennewitz, John C., Captain. Captain John C. Bennewitz, one of the highly respected citizens of Marshall county, is now living in retirement in the village of Argyle. Captain Bennewitz is known to his intimate friends as the "Iron Chancellor," owing to a remarkable resemblance, not only in features, but in his grasp of public affairs and depth of penetration and executive ability, to the famous German statesman. A portrait of him appears on another page Captain Bennewitz was born in Andisleben, Erfurt, Prussia, June 3, 1826. He was the fourth in a family of five sons born to William H., and Elizabeth (Krieger) Bennewitz. At the age of thirteen years our subject was compelled to quit school and thus his education was left deficient. He has, however, been a thorough and observing student all his life, and is respected as a man of wide and general information of a practical and valuable nature. In 1847 Captain Bennewitz was conscripted into the Prussian army and served four years during which time occurred the civil war in Baden, Germany. In 1852 he came to the United States, locating in Waukesha county, Wisconsin. He began farming in that county in 1857 and conducted farm operations with success until 1872 when, having been elected to the state legislature of Wisconsin, he sold his farm. His election, however, was contested. In 1875 he removed to Red Wing, Minnesot, and purchased grain at that point for five years. He first visited Argyle in 1879 and the following year engaged in the machine business in that village and also opened a lumber business. He soon after sold his interest in the machine business, but conducted the lumber yard until 1890 when he sold out and retired from active business pursuits. Captain Bennewitz was married in 1853 to Mrs. Mary Menzel, nee Huegelman. Two children were born to this marriage, viz., Theodore and Henry. Captain Bennewitz is a member of the I.O.O.F., and of the German Lutheran church. He is an old-time Democrat, having voted that ticket for the past forty-eight years. During the past four years he has been chairman of the Democratic county central committee. He has made several trips to the old country since coming to America, the first being in 1873 and the second in 1893, and his last trip was made in 1895. Captain Bennewitz is the owner of valuable town property and is a man of substantial worth. For his valiant services in the Prussian army he holds a medal of honor presented to him by the Grand Duke of Baden, also a medal of honor from the King of Prussia. Mrs. Bennewitz died in Argyle, Minnesota, in 1887, and was buried at Red Wing, Minnesota.