Otis Allen BENTON - The present (1922) efficient sheriff of Henderson County, Otis Allen Benton, was formerly the clerk of the county, having been given that office in 1913, and during the period of his incumbency rendered the people of his section of the state the kind of service that brings forth commendatory remarks and serves to renew public confidence. Prior to entering upon his official career he had been engaged in several lines of activity in which he had made numerous friends and established himself firmly in the esteem of the general public, and the faith which the voters placed in his integrity and ability had been vindicated by the manner in which he has discharged the responsibilities of his important office.
Mr.. Benton was born March 10, 1882, in Henderson County, KY, the eldest in a family of seven children born to William Tell and Lura (WALDEN) BENTON. His father was born at Sullivan, Indiana, a son of William and Minerva (WALLS) BENTON, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, of English and Welsh lineage, while the latter on the paternal side came of Scotch ancestry and on the maternal side was of one quarter Indian blood. William Tell Benton came to Henderson County during the civil war, when about ten years of age, and here met and married Lura Walden, a native of Henderson County and a daughter of Nathan and Sallie (SMITH) Walden. For a number of years he was engaged in farming, with a gratifying measure of success, but is now retired from active pursuits and makes his residence at Henderson where he has a comfortable home.
Otis Allen Benton passed his boyhood on the home farm and received his early education in the country schools, following which he pursued a course at the Agricultural and Mechanical College, Lexington, Kentucky, and further prepared himself by a business course at Evansville, Indiana. He began his career as a traveling representative of a wholesale house, and after pursuing this vocation for six years settled at Henderson and for four years was engaged in the livery and live stock business. In these connections, as before noted, he became well and favorably known to the people as a young man of energy, enterprise, intelligence and integrity, qualities which made him peculiarly fitted for the office of county clerk, to which he was first elected in 1913. During the first four years of his occupancy of that post he discharged his duties in such a capable manner that he was agaub became the nominee in 1917 and was duly elected by a handsome majority. Mr.. Benton was nominated for county sheriff of Henderson County, at the Democratic Primary August 6, 1921, and won the election by a large majority. He has always been a staunch democrat. He is widely known in fraternal circles, being a Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, also a member of the Eastern Star, Knight of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Loyal Order of Moose, Woodmen of the World and Modern Woodman of America. His religious faith is that of the Baptist Church.
On April 30, 1907, Mr. Benton was united in marriage with Miss Nancy American ROBERTSON, daughter of Leonard A. Robertson, of Henderson County, and two children have been born to them: Otis Allen, Jr., and Lura May.
- History of Ky. Vol V - 1922 - Page 203
