Menzo M. Benster Biography


	This biography appears on pages 506-509 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MENZO M. BENSTER. 

	In this age of great commercial enterprise and business activity, 
invention is constantly placing upon the market utilities which meet 
the demands of the hour and which indicate the constantly changing 
conditions. Among those whose contributions to the world of invention 
have been of great value is Menzo M. Benster, of Gettysburg, whose "All 
Inside Safety Window" has attracted the widest attention and the most 
favorable comment. It was demonstrated at the Huron State Fair and is 
coming into general use. 

	Mr. Benster is a native of Michigan, his birth having occurred in 
Wayne county, near Detroit, on the 17th of April, 1840, his parents 
being Wendell and Jane (Giles) Benster, the former a native of the 
state of New York, while the latter was born in England. The father was 
a contractor and railroad builder and was awarded a contract in 
connection with the construction of the Michigan Central and other 
railroads. Subsequently he turned his attention to farming, in which he 
engaged extensively. He afterwards became identified with the sawmill 
business, devoting his time to the manufacture of lumber for a 
considerable period. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted for service in the 
Civil war as a member of Company A, Twenty-fourth Michigan Regiment, 
and died when on his way home in 1864, as the result of exposure and 
hardships which he had endured at the front. His widow long survived 
him, passing away in 1895, at the age of eighty-four years. 

	Menzo M. Benster had but limited opportunity for attending 
school, pursuing his studies in a school room for only about three 
months. In the school of experience, however, he has learned many 
valuable lessons, and reading and observation have greatly broadened 
his knowledge. When he was twenty-one years of age he and his two 
brothers took over a sawmill in Michigan owned by their father and 
operated it for about three months when it was destroyed by fire. In 
August, 1862, Menzo M. Benster, then a young man of twenty-two years, 
enlisted as one of the defenders of the Union cause, becoming a private 
of Company A, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry. He was promoted to the 
rank off corporal and served for six months, after which he was 
honorably discharged because of disability occasioned by paralysis. He 
raised a company of twenty-two men but lost his commission. The entire 
regiment was raised in ten days. 

	When he returned from the south, Mr. Benster was unable to engage 
in any kind of work for three or four years but at length, having 
somewhat recovered his health, he became interested in the sewing 
machine business in Detroit, continuing in that line for twelve years. 
He next went to Chicago, where he was in business until he sustained 
another stroke of paralysis in 1879. He afterward resided in Maywood, a 
suburb of Chicago, until 1883, when his physician advised him to seek a 
change of climate and he came to South Dakota, making his way direct to 
Gettysburg, which was then called Meade. He lived retired, although he 
took up a claim, which he proved up, securing his title. He was 
appointed postmaster by President Garfield and occupied that position 
for two years, during which time he engaged in the grocery business 
until forced to withdraw on account of his health. Since that time he 
has lived practically retired but is now devoting his attention to 
perfecting a number of patents. He possesses marked inventive genius 
and has patented a wireless staple, also a shill coupler for putting in 
shills or tongue in a buggy. He has likewise patented a window and 
casing. The window can be removed from the casing for cleaning and 
replaced in a very short time without danger to the window washer, 
while the glass is held in place without the use of nails or putty. The 
operations of this invention are so simple that a woman or child can 
remove and replace the sash and screen. It has been termed the "window 
without a fault," and it will be hailed with delight as a great 
invention notable for its ease of operation, its simplicity, durability 
and cheapness. It can be built as cheaply as the old style window, Mr. 
Benster's latest improvement having greatly reduced the cost of 
manufacturing. He has also patented a flying machine with reversible 
engine. The machine is different in every respect to other machines and 
with the rotary engine is much lighter and more powerful, which makes 
the machine more practicable. Mr. Benster is a land owner of Potter 
county but he devotes his entire time to the perfecting of his 
invention, his window requiring eight different patents for the 
completed window. 

	On the 20th of October, 1870, Mr. Benster wedded Miss Mary C. 
Munson, a native of Detroit, Michigan, and a daughter of Carlos and 
Almira (Shirley) Munson, who were born in Connecticut and Ohio 
respectively. Her father was an engineer on steamboats on the lakes for 
a long time and also occupied positions as a stationary engineer. He 
died before the beginning of the Civil war and his wife passed away in 
1897. Their daughter Mrs. Benster was educated in the schools of 
Detroit and by her marriage she has become the mother of three 
children. Frances, the eldest, is the wife of Charles C. Krieg, a stone 
cutter, who is also engaged in the land business at Gettysburg, and 
they have four children:, Frances, Willard B., B. Neola and Stanley. 
Edna, the second member of the family, is the wife of Anderson Michael, 
who is cashier of the bank at Philip, South Dakota, and they have three 
children, Marjorie Ruth, Doris and Maryellen. Altha, the youngest of 
the family, is the wife of Charles Bowers, wire chief for the Western 
Union Telegraph Company at Spokane, Washington, and they have one 
child, Richard Charles. 

	Mr. Benster maintains pleasant relations with his old army 
comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and 
his wife is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. They attend the 
Congregational church, and in political belief Mr. Benster is a 
republican. He has never been a politician in the sense of office 
seeking, serving only as postmaster. He has given valuable aid in 
public affairs, however, since the time when he made great sacrifice to 
aid his country in the Civil war. The spirit of loyalty is one of his 
strong traits and he cooperates in all those forceful and effective 
movements which have to do with the general welfare.