HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      18

two years old. He was three times married, the maiden name of his
third wife, grandmother of Jesse R., having heen Mary Robinson.
She was born in Kentucky and died in Indiana at the venerable age of
ninety—three years. She reared sixteen children of her own, and three
of her husband’s by his second marriage.
    John Benham, father of Jesse R., grew to manhood on the parental
homestead, and when ready to settle in life received from his father the
deed to a tract of timber land, upon which he cleared a space and built
the log cabin in which his children were born. Subsequently, with the
assistance of his sons, he cleared and improved a farm, erected a substan-
tial set of frame buildings, and was there prosperously employed in tilling
the soil until his death, in 1885. He married Mary J. Benefiel, who
was born January 20, 1825, in Kentucky, a daughter of Jesse Benefiel and
a granddaughter of George Benefiel. George Benefiel was born and
reared in Virginia, but when a young man migrated to Kentucky, settling
as a pioneer near Lexington, and there spent his remaining years. Jesse
Benefiel was born in Kentucky, October 26, 1800. About 1820 he came
to Indiana, was married in Ohio county, and subsequently lived for a
number of years in Jefferson county. Removing from there to Brown
township, Ripley county, he purchased land and was there employed in
general farming until his death, at the age of ninety-one years. He
married Sarah Huckstep, who was born in 1807, in Ohio county, Indiana,
where her father. John Huckstep, was an early settler. She lived to be
eighty-seven years old. Mrs. Mary J. (Benefiel) Benham is now a
bright and active woman of eighty-three years. She reared nine chil-
dren, namely: Sarah Ann, Mary Elizabeth, Jesse P., Jacob Newton,
Alexander, James William, John Sampson, Charles Edmond and Silas
Elmore. All of these married and had children of their own. Both of
the daughters and one of the sons have passed to the higher life.
    Brought up and educated in his native county, Jesse R. Benham
commenced when young to make himself useful. In those days making
shingles was quite an industry, and he first assisted in that labor, after-
wards working on the farm, remaining with his parents until 1881.
Coming then to Clay City, he first found employment in a sawmill, and
has since been continuously employed in the lumber business, at the
present time being salesman for B. M. Guirl.
    On September 20, 1883, Mr. Benham married Alice Goshorn, who
was born in Marion township, Owen county, Indiana, a daughter of
Robert and Julia A. (Summers) Goshorn. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs.
Benham six children have been born, namely: Lena E.. George G.. Mary
Jane, John Cleveland, Julia Dell and Frederick Robert. Politically Mr.
Benham is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party. and
religiously Mrs. Benham is a member of the Brethren church

    JACOB KILMER.--A worthy representative of the early pioneers of
Clay county, Jacob Kilmer, a venerable and highly esteemed citizen of
Clay City, has during his long and busy life been prominently identified
with the development and progress of this section of the state, and, as
opportunity has occurred, has given his aid and influence towards the
establishment of enterprises conducive to the public welfare of town and
county. A son of Christian Kilmer, he was born June 12, 1819, in Lan-
caster county, Pennsylvania, coming from thrifty German stock.