b & d Centralia-Marion Co IL; s/of Edward Jacob Besant (16 Nov 1857 IL-20 Dec 1949 LA CA) & Emma Louise Walters (1859 Zanesville OH-1930 CA); m: Stella Opplinger (22 Aug 1882 IN-21 Dec 1961 bur: Vincennes IN); res: 1900 Centralia-Marion Co IL 1930-42 Vincennes IN; ch: Dorothy Jane (10 Nov 1912 IN)