This large house at 911 3rd Ave. S.—set well back from the street—was
built in 1890 by an early-day businessman—S. J. (Capt.) Bennett who came
to Fort Dodge in 1870. It occupies a prominent location at the southeast
corner of Third Avenue South and Ninth Street and has a two-story
carriage house at the rear.
The three-story residence is built of St. Louis granite-brick with Sioux
Falls jasper trimmings, an early-day history of the city notes. It has a
slate roof with copper trim. Wide porches extend along the north and
west sides of the house.
Since 1923 this spacious home, built by one of the city’s most prominent
early-day residents, has been owned and occupied by members of the
Schaupp family. Enjoying the gracious living quarters in the home were
the late Judge and Mrs. John M. Schaupp, their sons John Jr., and
Bradley and Judge Schaupp’s mother, the late Mrs. Emma Schaupp.
Judge Schaupp, a Fort Dodge attorney for many years, was appointed to
the Webster County District Court bench in 1944 and served for 19 years
before retiring. He died in 1971 at age 80. The family residence is now
occupied by son John Jr. The other son, Bradley, resides in Cedar
Rapids.
[Illustration: The Capt. Bennett home
911 3rd Avenue South]
Capt. Bennett, a native of New York, came west as a young man, spending
some time in Ohio and Illinois and then went to St. Louis where he
remained until the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Union Army
and spent nearly five years in service. He served first with the 23rd
Missouri Infantry and later was captain of Company A, 12th Missouri
Cavalry. At the close of the war his unit was one of those sent against
the depredating Indians in Wyoming.
Mustered out at Fort Leavenworth he engaged in surveying work for a time
before going to Boone and then on to Fort Dodge. He was in the tobacco
business here for a time, then left and worked on construction projects
for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Quitting railroad work he settled in
Tacoma, Wash., and Portland, Ore., and at one time was president of the
Tacoma Street Railway system.
Returning to Fort Dodge, Bennett was president of the Commercial
National Bank and the Green-Wheeler Shoe Company here. He was active in
civic affairs and served four years on the city council and four times
was elected mayor of Fort Dodge. He was also a member of the Board of
Supervisors and was instrumental in building of the present Webster
County courthouse. He died at his home here in 1911 at age 81.