John A. Bensel
Encyclopedia
John Anderson Bensel was an American civil engineer
and politician from New York
. He was President of the American Society of Civil Engineers
in 1910. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
from 1911 to 1914.
to Brownlee Bensel and Mary Maclay Hogg. He graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology
in 1884, and became an assistant engineer with the Aqueduct Commission. Then he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad
, and from 1889 to 1895 was in charge of constructions on New York City's North River waterfront.
In 1896, he married Ella Louise Day. The same year he became Consulting Engineer of the Philadelphia Water Department. In 1898, he became Chief Engineer of the New York City Dock Department, and in 1906 was appointed a Dock Commissioner.
From 1908 to 1910, he was President of the New York City Board of Water Supply. He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1911 to 1914, elected on the Democratic ticket in 1910 and 1912, but defeated for re-election in 1914.
In 1914, he was investigated during Charles S. Whitman
's graft investigation, but was cleared of all suspicions by his successor Frank M. Williams
after the latter inspected the department's accounts in 1915.
As a major
, he commanded the 125th Battalion of Engineers of the U.S. Army during World War I
.
He died of myelitis
on June 19, 1922, in Bernardsville, New Jersey
.
tree planted by Bensel in 1906.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was President of the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
in 1910. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
New York State Engineer and Surveyor
The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was...
from 1911 to 1914.
Biography
He was born on August 16, 1863, in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Brownlee Bensel and Mary Maclay Hogg. He graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
in 1884, and became an assistant engineer with the Aqueduct Commission. Then he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, and from 1889 to 1895 was in charge of constructions on New York City's North River waterfront.
In 1896, he married Ella Louise Day. The same year he became Consulting Engineer of the Philadelphia Water Department. In 1898, he became Chief Engineer of the New York City Dock Department, and in 1906 was appointed a Dock Commissioner.
From 1908 to 1910, he was President of the New York City Board of Water Supply. He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1911 to 1914, elected on the Democratic ticket in 1910 and 1912, but defeated for re-election in 1914.
In 1914, he was investigated during Charles S. Whitman
Charles S. Whitman
Charles Seymour Whitman served as the 41st Governor of New York from January 1915 to December 1918. He was also a delegate to Republican National Convention from New York in 1916.-Biography:...
's graft investigation, but was cleared of all suspicions by his successor Frank M. Williams
Frank M. Williams
Frank Martin Williams was an American lawyer, civil engineer and politician from New York. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor from 1909 to 1910, and from 1915 to 1922.-Life:He graduated from Colgate University in 1895...
after the latter inspected the department's accounts in 1915.
As a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, he commanded the 125th Battalion of Engineers of the U.S. Army during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He died of myelitis
Myelitis
Myelitis is a disease involving inflammation of the spinal cord, which disrupts central nervous system functions linking the brain and limbs. The name is derived from Greek referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation....
on June 19, 1922, in Bernardsville, New Jersey
Bernardsville, New Jersey
Bernardsville is a borough and affluent suburb in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. Bernardsville has the 10th-highest per capita income in the state. Nationwide, Bernardsville ranks 75th among the 100 highest-income places in the United States...
.
Legacy
Bensel's New Jersey mansion, which was built in 1905 and was named "Queen Anne Farm", is now part of the Morristown National Historic Park. The surrounding grounds are open to visitors and contain a five-story stone water tower and a large Silver MapleSilver Maple
The silver maple —also called creek maple, river maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, water maple, or white maple—is a species of maple native to eastern North America in the eastern United States and Canada...
tree planted by Bensel in 1906.
External links
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/bennetts-bensmiller.html Political Graveyard
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=990CE3DC113EE033A25752C3A9679C946997D6CF Appointed Pres. of the Water Supply Board, in NYT on January 31, 1908, with short bio
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C0DE0DF1339E433A25750C0A9679D946196D6CF The water supply labor contracts, in NYT on November 3, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0CE7DE113FE633A25755C2A9679C946596D6CF Whitman's graft hunt, in NYT on January 26, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B02E4DF163AE633A2575BC1A9649C946596D6CF Bensel refuses to waive immunity and does not testify, in NYT on February 18, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9506E4DD1E3AE733A25756C0A9659C946596D6CF The Sullivan Committee's graft hunt, in NYT on March 5, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C0CEED6173EE733A25750C0A9629C946596D6CF Bensel refuese to waive immunity, the garft hunt continues, in NYT on April 3, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F02E3DF1538E633A25756C0A9679C946496D6CF Bensel's administration under scrutiny, in NYT on January 5, 1915
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9803E1DB1538E633A25756C2A9679C946496D6CF Bensel vindicated by Williams, in NYT on January 25, 1915
- http://www.asce.org/150/presidents.html Am. Soc. of Civil Eng., Presidents