Benshoof, John 1833-1893

BENSHOOF

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/19/2006 at 09:21:00

BENSHOOF – Newton, Jasper county, Iowa, August 2nd, 1893, of Rheumatism and consumption, John Benshoof, aged 59 years, 7 months and 22 days.

John Benshoof was born in Johnstown, Penn., December 11th, 1833.

In 1854, he came with his parents to Iowa, and settled at Blue Grass, in the eastern part of the state. In Sept. 1861, he enlisted in the Regular Army, in the 13th Regiment. At the time of his enlistment Wm. T. Sherman was his Colonel, and P. H. Sheridan, his Captain. At the expiration of two years, he re-enlisted in the same regiment. Shortly after his reenlistment he was commissioned as Lieutenant in the 100th regiment – Colored Troops. At the battle of Nashville, three bullets passed thro’ his clothing and haversack. In the latter part of 1866 he was mustered out of the service, but so used had he become to a military life, that he enlisted, two or three times in his old regiment, making a total of fourteen years active service in the U.S. Army. He served as Ass’t Superintendent of the National Cemetery at Hampton Roads, Va., and was appointed Superintendent of the National Cemetery on Red River, Louisiana. For thee years he was in the Regular National Soldiers’ Home, in Washington, D. C. He then returned to Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In Sept. 1800, he returned to Iowa. About one year ago, owing to greatly impaired health, he was admitted to the hospital, in the Soldiers’ Home at Marshalltown, in this State. Three weeks ago he obtained a 30-day furlough, and came to Newton to visit his brother, our fellow townsman, Peter Benshoof. While waiting in Grinnell between trains, he contracted a severe cold, so that in a few days after his arrival here he was confined to his bed, which proved to be his bed of death. Ten days before his furlough expired, he was summoned by the Great Commander of Heaven and Earth, and with a firm trust and reliance in the Lord Jesus Christ, he gladly obeyed the summons, was mustered out of service, and has entered upon his well-earned eternity of blissful rest. ~ The Newton Journal, Wednesday, August 9, 1893.

Note: Buried at Newton Union Cemetery with his brother's family.