In December 1882, Bentley moved from Marshall Co., MS to McGregor, TX where he made his first crop in 1883. In January 1885, he returned to Mississippi and married Clarence Zillafro Ehrman on January 13, 1886. They moved to Stampede Valley, McLennan County, Texas in 1886. He was a cotton farmer and self educated. He was most interested in world affairs: politics(Democrat), schools(trustee) and religion(Baptist deacon). He was a strict disciplinarian and stressed honesty, strong character and taught the "Golden Rule" to his children. None of his thirteen children ever appeared in a court of law. He was a leading citizen in every community he resided.

Bentley moved his family to Lamkin, Comanche Co., TX in 1888 where he continued farming & cattle raising. He owned land in Hamilton & Comanche Counties. Cecil was born in Stampede Valley, McLennan Co., TX. Julius Grover, Ted, Roger, Bell, Effie, Neva, Wade, Ursa, Cappie, Vesta, Doris and Audra were born in Lamkin, Comanche County.

When Clarence died on May 6, 1922, Bentley sold out and the family was unsettled for a short period. The remaining children at home all married except Audra who finished school while living with Neva and went to work until she married.
Bentley was forced to repossess the farm he had sold in Hamilton Co. He sold the farm and bought a small place at Altmon, Texas where he lived alone. One Christmas day, he slipped on a moss covered rock while crossing a creek en route to a neighbor's house. He fell breaking his hip and was rendered an invalid for four and one-half years until his death on May 17, 1946. During these last years he suffered four surgeries having both legs amputated. He lived with Neva, Effie and Ursa while Cappie cared for him as nurse.