THE HISTORY OF THE CHERRY FAMILY By Virginia (Cherry) Whitman The Cherry family has made quite a contribution to Ottawa County and the Bennington vicinity. They have been a pioneer family who have enjoyed working and bettering every area in which they have lived. There were three Cherry brothers who came to Kansas about the same time: Andrew, Peter and Will. Peter lived around the Niles area with three children: namely, Hazel of Illinois; Mabel, of Salina and Vern, of the home. Will made his home with Peter. Peter came to be known as Pete. Will died at an earlier age; Pete lived to be an old man passing away many years ago. Andrew and Nettie (Smith) Cherry moved to Kansas in 1887, coming from Benton County, Arkansas, near Siloam Springs. They first came to New Cambria in Saline County and here Pearl was born. The next year, 1888, they moved to Ottawa County settling near Niles, Kansas, on what was and is known as the Zerba Farm. They had ten children: namely, Pearl, Della,Iva and Eva (twins) , John, Jim, Harvey, Bessie, Jessie and Ted. Eva passed away at an early age of twenty-four years, leaving two small children for Andrew and Nettie to raise. Andrew  had an early and untimely death by accident at the age of 58, leaving Nettie a widow to raise Ted, then 16, and two grandchildren even younger. Citizens around this community, which many you will recognize, are as follows: starting with the oldest first: PEARL - married Ernie Baugh and to this union, six children were born, Arlone, (Deceased), Harold in Oklahoma, Walter in Colorado, Max (a carpenter), who married Avis Constable, lives in the north edge of Bennington and have three children, Wayne in Colorado, Edgar (Deceased), and Ernie who had the trade as a blacksmith in Bennington for many years, passed away in 1955. Pearl still resides on the east side of Bennington in the house known to many as the NoIf house. DELLA - married Burton Lott and to this union three children were born; Ollie, who lives north of Bennington on the Dana Crawford farm and the place where Burt and Della began housekeeping, Ethel, who lives in California, and Maurine, who was a native of Bennington for many years, being married to Darrell Hardisty, a local and long-time resident of Bennington. They had two boys, Dee and Milo, who attended the Bennington Schools. Darrell passed away in 1956, and in 1965, Maurine remarried and now lives in California. Burton passed away on the Lott farm north and west of Bennington, after residing there about forty years. Della Lives in Bennington on K-18 and one block east of main street in what was known as the Parks' home. IVA- married Arthur Owsley and to this union one son was born, Arthur. The father passed away when Art was a little boy and va went home with her folks for about eight years.Iva then married Joe Blaha and to this union five children were born; Lorraine, who lives in Kansas City, Ralph of Wichita, Beulah of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Dwayne, who now lives on what came to be the home place of the Joe Blaha family, about five miles east and two and one-half miles north of Bennington. Dwayne has three sons who have attended the Bennington schools. Dwayne was a member of the Bennington School Board and farms, a diversified farm, at this time. Art Owsley is in Kansas City, Missouri. EVA- married Ned Stickley and to this union two. children were born: Malcolm (Bud) and Carl Ned passed away in 1915 and Eva passed away in 1916. This left both Carl and Bud to be cared for by Grandma. Eva lived in the house in Bennington which was later lived in by Grandma Cherry for a long time. It came to be known as Graridma Cherry's house. JOHN - married Ruby Burt and lived most of his life in Dickinson and Clay counties, however, several years he has been living in California. To this union five children were born; Marjory, who lives in Wakefield, Kansas, Vera, in California, Maxine (deceased), Marvin and Marcella (twins), and Bobby. Marvin lives in Wichita, Kansas; Marcel Ia lives in California; and Bobby lives in Wichita. Maxine, after her death, left a son, Ronnie, who was raised by John and Ruby; he now lives n wichita JIM - married Grace McCready and to this union two children were born on the farm two miles east, one mile north and one-quarter mile east of Bennington where Jim and Grace live at the present time Geraldine, lives in Manhattan; Virginia lives in Bennington and married Lee Whitman, they live in whathas been known as the Ceorge Smith home, They have four children who have attended the Bennington Public Schools RETURN. NEXT