John Bentley

John Bentley (March 23, 1822 – March 5, 1894) was a Welsh American immigrant, building contractor, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Milwaukee County in the 1863, 1878, 1879, and 1880 sessions. He also served as sheriff of Milwaukee County during the 1880s, and constructed many notable buildings of early Wisconsin. In historical documents, his last name was sometimes spelled Bently.

Biography Bentley was born on March 23, 1822, in Newtown, Wales. When he was young, his father emigrated to the United States, leaving him in the care of his mother. He had little formal education and was employed as a child to work as a clerk in a seed store. Through his teenage years, he sought to educate himself by studying in the evenings, and brought himself up to general knowledge. Serving in the Assembly during the American Civil War, Bentley was identified as a War Democrat, and strongly supported the Union cause and raising Union Army volunteers. His chief accomplishment in the Assembly was bringing Milwaukee the state normal school—the predecessor to the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

In 1880, he was the Democratic nominee for sheriff of Milwaukee County, but suffered his only electoral defeat in the November general election, losing to German American Republican John Rugee. He ran again in 1882, however, and this time won the office.

His last public office was park commissioner of the city of Milwaukee, having been appointed by Mayor Thomas H. Brown in 1889. He held that office until his death.

Personal life and family John Bentley was a son of Thomas Bentley and his wife Jane ( Jones). After emigrating to the United States, Thomas Bentley worked in manufacturing woolen goods in New Jersey until coming to live with his son in Milwaukee in the 1860s.