Emma Jane (Harrison) Benson (1930)

BENSON, HARRISON, HUFFMAN, ILES, RAMSEY

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 10/5/2009 at 17:33:54

Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, July 24, 1930

Emma Jane Harrison, daughter of Lewis and Martha Harrison was born March 1st, 1849, in Meigs county, Ohio.

In 1855 her parents decided to venture into the new frontiers of Iowa. So she with her parents took a boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi River to Burlington, where they transferred to ox team and wagon, taking the stage route to Fort Des Moines and on west to Dallas County, where they homesteaded about five or six miles northeast of Earlham.

On March 29th, 1865 she was united in marriage to Thomas W. Benson and went with him to make their home and rear their family on his father’s homestead. Unto them five children were born and all of them are living.

Much might be written about the early life of these sturdy pioneers. The toil, privation, sacrifices, hardships, little opportunities for schooling or reading, travel or extended acquaintance, yet, their measure of life was large and the fruits of labor abundant. There was much joy and social fellowship in the community life.

They were converted in 1886 to the religion of Jesus Christ and remained true to their vows until day of death.

They helped in the erection of the United Brethren Church at Hickory Grove and became members of that Body of Believers, and were loyal supporters of the Hickory Grove Church until its doors were closed.

Emma Benson possessed and developed a special talent in reading the scriptures, which claimed and held the attention of all. But her greatest gift was manifested in prayer. One felt when she addressed the Throne of Grace, that her Father listened with pleasure to her supplications. Solomon must have had in mind such a mother and wife as this one, when he wrote, “She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Truly a wife’s solicitude and a mother’s earnest and loving care meets with the approval of Him, whom she called Lord and Master.

After the closing of the doors of Hickory Grove Church she brought her letter of membership and placed it with the Friends Church of Earlham in February 1926.

Her own home was broken up in 1924 at the death of her husband. Since then she has made her home with her children.

Often opportunity was not favorable for her attendance at church service, but when ever possible she has been presented at the house of God. Only a few days ago she said, “I came to Edgar’s this summer thinking I might go to church every Sunday, but now I am going on to my home in heaven.” In two or three days more in the early afternoon of July 19th, 1930, she saw Him, who is invisible and bid farewell to children and earth to be at rest forever.

She awaits over there her five children, Edgar Benson, of Earlham; Rhoda Iles, Plattsmouth, Nebr.; A. W. Benson, Upland, Calif; Myrtle Huffman, Blakesburg, Iowa; Grace Ramsey, Linden, Iowa; one sister, of Sarcoxie, Mo.; one brother, of Kansas City, Kans., grandchildren and great grandchildren and many friends.

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