Biography extracted from History of Sauk County, Wisconsin Chicago: Western Historical Company, published 1880.

Baraboo:

M. Bentley, lawyer; he was born in Binghamton, N.Y., April 9, 1836; in 1848, he moved with his parents to LaGrange, Ind., and in 1855 to Columbia Co., Wis.; in 1861, his father enlisted in Co. G, 2nd W.V.I.; was discharged July, 1862, and then enlisted, Jan. 19, 1864 as a recruit to Co. E. 23rd W.V.I.; was taken sick and sent to the hospital at New Orleans, and died March 31, 1864, and his mother died the same day at her home in the village of Poynette, Columbia Co., Wis. M. Bentley, the subject of this sketch, enlisted Dec. 24, 1863 in Co. K, 10th N.Y. Heavy Artillery, and served about six months, and was discharged on account of disability. Mr. William R. Bentley, his only brother, was in Co G. 2nd W.V.I and was killed at Antietam. He was married, Oct 27, 1858 to Miss Susan A. Booth; she was born in New York; had five children - Alice R., Charles V., Frank R., Addie B., deceased, and Clara A. His wife died Aug. 27, 1867; he married the second time, April 18, 1868 to Mrs. Jennie Jenks; have one child Ernest R. Both Mr. and Mrs Bentley are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a Republican.

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