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.

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.