Benton C. Guilliams

BURKETT, GUILLIAMS, JOEKEL, MCKENZIE, SCHULTZ, STREET

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 19:18:54

Benton C. Guilliams is a retired farmer and stockman of Madison county, living on section 8, South township. He was born in Putnam county, Indiana, January I, 1846, a son of William and Anna (Burkett) Guilliams. The father was a native of Virginia and a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Guilliams, both natives of the Old Dominion and representatives of old families of Virginia and the latter of Scotch extraction. The grandparents removed to Indiana, settling near the Ohio line in an early day, and there William Guilliams, Sr., followed the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred when he was about sixty years of age. His wife passed away at about the same age.

William Guilliams, Jr., was reared upon the old home farm and throughout his entire life followed agricultural pursuits, in which he met with a fair measure of success. He was an active churchman and guided his life by religious teachings. His wife, who was born in Salem, North Carolina, was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Burkett, natives of Pennsylvania and Germany respectively, the latter coming to the United States in childhood. In 1852 the parents of Benton C. Guilliams came to Iowa, making the journey with ox teams and locating on land that is now comprised within the boundaries of the farm owned by the subject of this review. The father entered this land from the government, thus coming into possession of a wild and unimproved tract which he at once began to develop. As the years passed the work of cultivation was carried steadily forward and the place was transformed into a valuable property, upon which he spent his remaining days, dying at the age of sixty-one years. His wife survived him for a long period, passing away at the age of eighty-four. He was never an office seeker, but cooperated in plans and measures for the public good. He was one of the pioneer settlers of the county, arriving here at a period when there were no bridges and practically no roads had been laid out. Much of the land, too, was in its primitive condition and the work of development andprogress seemed scarcely begun. Both he and his wife guided their lives by Christian principles. They held membership in the Christian church and were among those who helped to build the first church edifice belonging to that denomination. The little house of worship was erected on his farm, but the location has since been changed.

Benton C. Guilliams was six years of age when brought by his parents to Iowa. His boyhood days were spent at home and his education was acquired in the public schools. He was yet a boy in years when March 20, 1863, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining the "boys in blue" of Company F, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He was with Sherman's army and participated in the battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta and also in the engagements at Columbia, South Carolina, and Bentonville, North Carolina. He had many narrow escapes and at the close of the war was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 24, 1865. He then returned home, resumed farming and also taught school in South township for eight or nine years,, mostly through the winter seasons. In 1869 he purchased a half interest in the home farm and later purchased the shares of the other heirs in the property. He has since devoted his time to general farming and to the breeding and raising of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, having now a large and fine herd. He is today the owner of one hundred and seventy-two acres of rich and productive land, which he cultivated and improved until about six years ago, when he turned the management of the farm over to his son and retired from active life in order to spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.

On the 9th of September, 1874, Mr. Guilliams was united in marriage with Miss Jennie McKenzie, who was born in Story county, Iowa, December 21, 1855. The family removed to Winterset during the girlhood days of Mrs. Guilliams, who was there reared and educated. She died January 6, 1909, leaving four children, while one had passed away in infancy. Those who survive the mother are: Flora, the wife of G. A. Schultz, of Indianola, Iowa; Maude G., who became the wife of Charles A. Joekel, by whom sh'e had one child, Mary Joekel, and after the death of her first husband became the wife of Charles Street, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Charles McKenzie, cashier of J. F. Johnston's Bank at St. Charles; and Ernest, who operates the home farm.

In his political views Mr. Guilliams has always been a republican and for many years held the office of justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial and winning him "golden opinions from all sorts of people." He was also deputy county clerk from 1883 until 1889 and while the incumbent in that office rented the farm and made his home in Winterset, returning to the farm in the latter year. Fraternally he is connected with St. Charles Lodge, No. 115, A. F. & A. M., and is also a charter member of the Grand Army post, thus maintaining pleasant relations with those who marched with him on the field of battle. He holds membership in the Baptist church and his life is guided by its principles. He is numbered among the honored pioneer settlers of the county, for he was only a child when he came here with his parents. He has been quite successful as a farmer and stock-raiser and although now living retired he still regards the old farm as his home, although he spends some of his time with his children. He is a well informed man of splendid characteristics and he has many friends among the best people of the county.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.