Benyon, William

BENYON, GRIFFITH, LEWIS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/11/2009 at 09:17:18

William Beynon, a farmer and stock raiser of Palo Alto Township, Jasper County, residing upon section 10, was born in Wales on the 21st of June 1836. He is a son of William and Sarah (Griffith) Beynon, also natives of Wales, whom, in 1853, he accompanied to America. They took passage at Liverpool on a sailing-vessel, "The Middlesex," and after a monotonous voyage of nine weeks reached the harbor of New York City. Thence they proceeded immediately to West Virginia, and in that state William engaged in coal mining for a number of years.

In 1857 Mr. Beynon made the long journey to California, proceeding from New York by steamer to Aspinwall, thence across the Isthmus of Panama, and from there up the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco, Cal. For about eighteen months he engaged in mining for gold, meeting with fair success in his speculations. During the great gold excitement in British Columbia he journeyed to that country, and traveling up the Frazer River, started to engage in mining, but was prevented from so doing on account of an Indian outbreak. Being unable to prosecute his labors in South America, he returned to the United States, taking a steamer to Washington Territory, where for one year he engaged in mining for coal. Subsequently he returned to the east via the Panama route.

After residing in Ohio for a short time, Mr. Beynon went to Kentucky, and there, in 1861, he married Miss Eliza Lewis, a native of Wales. Six children have been born of this union: Benjamin L., Joseph G., William H., Rees, Sarah A. and Abraham G. Mr. Beynon continued to reside in Kentucky until 1863, when he removed to southern Illinois, and from there, in 1866, went to Montana. In l868 he came to Jasper County, Iowa, and has since that time been a resident of Palo Alto Township, where he owns one hundred and forty acres of finely improved land. His success in life may be attributed to his untiring energy and ceaseless industry, combined with good judgment and shrewd discrimination. In his youth he had very few advantages, and in his native land he was a student in the pay school until he was twelve, since which time his education has been gained trough observation and experience. He has always been a thoughtful reader concerning events of local or national importance, and possesses intelligent opinions upon every subject of general interest.

As may be gleaned from the above, Mr. Beynon has been an extensive traveler, especially throughout different portions of the United States, and being an intelligent observer, he is an interesting conversationalist and pleasant companion. He possesses the thrift of his Welsh ancestors and the acumen and shrewd discernment gained by contact with the American people. From an unimproved place he has converted his farm into one of the most valuable estates in the county, a monument to his industry and good management. Though not a partisan in his political preferences, he is faithful to the interests of the Democratic Party, and always supports the principles and nominees of that organization. Socially he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Newton. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 246.