Lodemia (Dema) Charlotte Bennett was born in 1845 in Clairidon, Geauga County, Ohio.Her mother, Charlotte Parantha Humphrey Bennett, died November 23, 1857-she was thirty-seven years old, leaving Lodemia at only twelve years of age. She had an older brother, Rollen, who was fourteen, another brother Elmer, who was thirteen, and a younger sister, Emma, who was seven years old. Her father, Daniel Bennett, born in New York in 1818, kept and cared for the children the best he could, but when the Civil War started, he had to go to war and could no longer care for them. It was not uncommon for mothers to die young, leaving the husband to care for the children, nor was it unusual for the father to send them away because he couldn’t afford to care for them. Most men were farmers, and Daniel was listed as a carpenter. Men did not seem to be cut out for this sort of work directed for the women to feed, clothe and school the children. When the Civil War called for all men to enlist, life became even more challenging for Lodemia and her siblings. They were sent to live with friends and relatives. Lodemia’s father placed an ad in the Clairidon Newspaper: “Wanted - a place for some respect-able family for my daughter, eight years old until she shall become of age. Or, if preferred, I will reward any such family for keeping her for one year only Clairidon, November 23, 1860.” All the children attended school and could read and write.
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