Benner Cemetery (Centre County)

Benner Cemetery
Author's Photo

     Lying just out of sight from the busy streets and shopping centers of State College, is a small family cemetery. Though quaint and humble, one resident of this cemetery, along with his descendants, helped to make Centre County what it is today. His name was General Philip Benner.

Philip Benner's headstone
Author's Photo

     Philip Benner's story begins in Chester County where he was born in 1762. During the American Revolution, Phillip took up arms and fought under General "Mad Anthony" Wayne, who happened to be his relative and neighbor. After the war's conclusion, Philip became involved with iron manufacturing in Chester County.

     Around 1793, he moved to what would become Centre County as one of its first permanent settlers. With his previous knowledge of iron-making, Benner constructed Rock Iron Works, the first of such in Centre County. The community of Rock soon formed around the furnace.

    

     Getting supplies to his isolated community meant traversing a literal wilderness that much of the region was at the time. Just how challenging it was to move through the region was demonstrated by Benner's interaction with a teamster applying for work at Rock. Apparently the teamster thought pretty highly of himself for never upsetting a wagon. Benner’s response must have sent him into shock. "I do not think you will do, for you would not know what to do when you did upset. No man can drive from Rock to Pittsburgh without upsetting. No, you won't do at all." 

     Benner also did not tolerate slackers at his iron works. When interviewing a man to work at Rock he noticed his pants were worn on the backside. To this he later remarked, "A man who sat down, so much as to wear out the seat of his breeches, was too lazy a man to be tolerated at Rock."

     His other accomplishments were numerous. In 1827, he established the Centre Democrat, which would become one of the oldest established newspapers in the country. He also held the rank of major-general in the Pennsylvania militia and was a member of the Electoral College. General Benner died in 1832 at the age of 70, leaving behind an everlasting legacy in this region. 

    Rock Iron Works continued operation until the early 1850's when the furnaces went cold forever. The community hung on for a few more decades before becoming a ghost town. Almost nothing remains of it today. 

    For those wishing to visit the cemetery, please be respectful towards its inhabitants, many of whom  helped lay the foundation for Centre County's prosperity.

  

A wide angle view of the cemetery
Author's Photo

Information Retrieved From:

Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. (n.d.). Background to the virtual walking tour of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Retrieved From: http://www.bellefontearts.org/Virtual_walk/background.htm


Futhey, J.& Cope, G. (1881). History of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved from
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23911070/philip-benner


Philip Benner Biography.(2015). Retrieved from: http://www.searchforancestors.com/bios/pennsylvania/history_of_centre_and_clinton/benner_philip.php