Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Benson, William H 1841 - 1901 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com April 29, 2006, 4:43 pm Author: History of Grundy County IL 1914 Benson, William H. (deceased) - Life at most is but a brief span between birth and death. Some men are able to fill their years with deeds that redound to their credit and live after them. Their efforts along any direction seem to bring about results that cannot fail to be gratifying to their family and useful to their community. Such a man was the late William H. Benson, formerly of Norman Township. Mr. Benson, during life, was one of the successful agriculturalists of Grundy County who specialized in the raising of grain. He was born at Athens, Maine, February 25, 1841, a son of Samuel and Almira (Smith) Benson, of Maine, both of whom died in that State. In 1867, William H. Benson came with a sister to Grundy County, and worked for various farmers in this section until his marriage in 1869. In that year he rented land in Norman Township, but after two years bought eighty acres in that same township to which he added until he owned, at the time of his death, 225 acres, all in Norman and Wauponsee Townships. All of his agricultural efforts were directed towards the raising of grain. Mr. Benson had an excellent war record, having enlisted in the Seventh Maine Volunteer Infantry and served in the Civil War for one year, when he was discharged on account of disability. For years Mr. Benson belonged to the local G. A. R. post. The death of this good man occurred July 29, 1901, and all who knew him sorrowed to learn of his demise. In January, 1869, Mr. Benson was married to Emma E. James, born in Norman Township, June 6, 1850, daughter of Elisha B. and Margaret (Pyatt) James, natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively. Mr. James came with his mother and two brothers to Kendall County, Ill., later moving to Norman Township, Grundy County. The maternal grandparents moved to Kendall County in its pioneer days. The parents of Mrs. Benson married and settled on a farm Mr. James owned in Norman Township, where both died, Mrs. James about 1862, and Mr. James on January 12, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Benson became the parents of the following children: Anna E., who was born October 19, 1869, now Mrs. Frank De Lamartre of Joliet, Ill.; George W., who was born November 4, 1871, of Richmond, Ind., has one son, Chester, who married Pearl McMahon of Indiana; Charles R., who was born January 25, 1874, died March, 1903, having two sons, Donald and Russell; E. B., who was born December 31, 1879, of Vienna Township, has one daughter, Margery, who married Jesse Mulvanie; Nellie M., who was born May 14, 1882, now Mrs. John Davis of Norman Township, has two sons, Robert J. and Parker B.; Lottie E., who was born November 12, 1884, lives with her mother; and Frank H., who was born February 16, 1892, resides at home. Since the death of Mr. Benson, Mrs. Benson has continued the farm industries ably assisted by her children. Mr. Benson served as school director of his district, and was interested in educational matters although his own educational training was limited to attendance upon the local public schools of his native place. He attended the Methodist Church. A man of high principles, conscientious in his dealings with his fellowmen, and possessed of thrifty habits, Mr. Benson not only accumulated a good competency, but earned and retained the confidence of all who knew him. page 765 Additional Comments: Source: History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. Publishers; 1914 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/benson697nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb