Did you ever wonder how Bentley Road was named? Here’s the answer. It was named after land owner, Thomas Bentley, who owned 160 acres south of Bluffton, bordering the road now bearing his name.

His property fronted what is today on the west side of Bentley Road bordering Shifferly and Hillville Road.

The map used with this story shows that Bentley Road on the north side of Bluffton’s Main Street never connected to Bentley Road on the south side of Bluffton. However, at some point both roads took on the Bentley name. 

Why didn't the two roads connect? The answer is not known.

Here’s a biographical sketch of Thomas J. Bentley, taken word-for-word from the 1885 History of Allen County:

Thomas J. Bentley, farmer and stock-raiser, Bluffton, was born in the eastern part of Ohio, July 14, 1822; son of John and Nancy (Patten) Bentley, of English descent. John Bentley, a native of Massachusetts and a farmer by occupation, died at the advanced age of 92 years.

Mrs. Nancy Bentley, born in Maryland, died at age 76 years. During the last 10 years of their lives they made their home with our subject. Thomas J., the fifth in a family of six children, was reared on the farm, receiving a limited education in the common schools of Ohio, and early in life learned wagon making at Youngstown, Ohio.

In 1852 he came to Hancock County, subsequently returned to Allen County and settled in Bluffton, where for four years he carried on a wagon shop. He then purchased a farm, and has since engaged successfully in agricultural pursuits, owning now 160 acres where he resides, in Richland Township.

In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Bentley has twice married, first in 1845, to Miss Barbara Fusselman, by whom he had the following children: W.S., a farmer; Edward; Ella, wife of N. Carney; Rozelia; Agnes and H.G. 

Mrs. Bentley died in 1863, and in 1865 our subject was married to Mrs. Rachel M. Ault, of English descent, widow of Philip Ault, who was a member of the 57th regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and lost his life in defense of his country. 

They were parents of seven children, all married: Nancy E. Rosanna, Matilda, Theodocia and R.S.; Elijah and Wellington are deceased.

Mrs. Bentley’s grandfather served in the Revolutionary war. Her father, Elijah Perkins, a wealthy farmer, whose parents died when he was a child, has been very successful in business, possessing at one time 800 acres, and is at present owner of 600 acres of well-improved land in Richland Township; he is 98 years old, and his wife 92.

Today the naming of Bentley Road is part of forgotten Bluffton.

Click here for the Icon's previous Forgotten Bluffton feature.