Bio: William B. Benson, Desoto & Sabine Parish Louisiana Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** William B. Benson Farmer, De Soto Parish, La. Located in the midst of one of the finest agricultural centers of this parish. the plantation. which Mr. Benson owns, 640 acres, is conceded ta be among the best in the vicinity, and this is saying not a little, for on every band may be seen superior plantations, denoting thrift and prosperity. Mr. Benson first saw the light of day in Greesville District, S. C., in 1813, his parents, Gabriel and Rosana Benson, being born in Virginia and North Carolina in 1771 and 1795, respectively, their marriage being consummated in the Palmetto State. In 1818 they moved to Perry County, Ala., and in this State spent tire rest of their lives, the father dying in 1838 and the mother in 1844. Mr. Benson was an honest son of the sod, was collector of internal revenue during the War of 1812, and afterward served in the capacities of tax collector, sheriff and justice of the peace. His father., William Benson. was a Virginian, but removed to South Carolina just prior to the Revolutionary War, and died in Charleston, having been a captain in that war. He was of Finish descent, and had various local offices, in addition to tilling his farm. His wife, Eleanor Kay, was born in Mary1and. The maternal grand-father of the subject of this sketch, William Bunt, was a North Carolinian, born in 1762, and after farming the most of his life in South Carolina he passed from life in that State. His father was born in 1720. William B. Benson, whose name heads this sketch, was the eldest of nine children. and is the only one now living. He obtained a fair knowledge of hooks in the common schools, and was married in Alabama in 1841 to Miss Ann, daughter of Rev. Abner G and Mary (Jones) McCraw, who were born in South Carolina in 1803 and 1806, respectively, dying in Alabama. Mrss. Benson was horn in Perry County, Ala., in 1825, and her union with Mr Benson has resulted in the birth of eight children, only one son and one daughter now living. In 1848 they came to Desoto Parish, La, and since 1856 have resided on their present farm, which was then heavily covered with timber, and is situated fourteen miles South of Mansfield. He held the office of justice of the peace a short time, and he and wife have been members of the Baptist Church for nearly fifty years. Their son, Dr. Robert F. Benson, was born in De Soto Parish in 1853, and here his education was received. In 1872 he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. H. Mumford, and in 1881 graduated from the University of Louisiana since which time he has practiced in the neighborhood of his birthplace with the best of success. He is a member of the Louisiana State Medical Association, and belongs to Star Union Lodge of the Farmers' Alliance. In 1885 he was married to Loda, daughter of W. H. and Sa]lie Farmer, natives of Louisiana and Alabama, respectively. Mrs. Farmer died in Sabine Parish, where Capt. Farmer now resides, a tiller of the soil. Mrs. Benson was born in Do Soto Parish, and has borne the Doctor two children. Dr. Benson has spent all his life on the farm on which he is now residing, of which he is joint owner in connection with his father. His practice extends among the best families of this section, by whom he is kept very busy, while, with the medical fraternity, his reputation is by no means local, for he has made some remarkable cures. The other member of his father's family now living is Miss Etta, who was also reared and educated in De Soto Parish.