Re: Cecil Foster Benson
BENSON
Posted By: Raymond Sore (email) In Response To: Re: Cecil Foster Benson (Wilma J. Vande Berg)
Date: 12/29/2016 at 11:27:04
Re:Cecil Foster Benson
The information that I have is that he was born 29 Sept 1857 at Ramsgate in Kent and is believed to have died in 1934 aged 77
His wife Constance Mary (O'Neil) was born in 1858 in Kent and died 6 November 1935 aged 75.
They were married in March 1881 at Kensington in London. They had 2 children, Hugh Cecil born 23 July 1883 in UK and Ralph Francis born 15 August 1885 at Sibley House, Sibley, Sioux, IOWA. They appear to have move about quite a lot but seem to have had a permanent country home at Ludwick Hall just North of Hatfield in Hertfordshire. Nothing grand and now a relatively modest house in Welwyn Garden City
Now the USA connection, Cecil was involved with his first cousin Constantine in land dealings in the USA. Their main activity appears to have been buying large tracts of land from railroad concessions and splitting it up into small parcels and selling it to settlers, and doing a similar thing on directly behalf of railroads.
It is reported that Constantine took Cecil to the Close Colony and Cecil subsequently became a partner in IOWA Land Company (or Corporation). He is reported in Sioux City 1881-3. Both are reported as members of the Prairie Club at Le Mars 'an English Colony' in 1882 and that Cecil organised the Polo Club in 1886.
See 'Gentlemen of the Prairies – Victorian Pioneer IOWA', also 'The British in IOWA' (published in 1922).
IOWA Railroads by Frank Donovan also shows them as being involved in the regeneration of Minnesota and North Western Railroad.
Reference also 'Kleinwort Benson – The History of two families in Banking' published in 1997. This shows that Cecil and Constantine were part of the Benson Banking family albeit Cecil was not a banker. Together they were into property and business and thus probably getting support from the banking relatives. Another Cousin, Robert (known as Robin), also a banker, seems to have been involved. It also shows that the Bensons were very well connected and for instance were involved in the setting up of the General Electric Company (GEC) in UK.
I have so far been unable to find much indication of his activities in UK or confirmation of his death. Likewise his other son Ralph - other than him being described as a Gentleman I have found nothing which is a pity as his heirs (if any) would be contacts for further information. In the 1891 census Cecil appears to have been 'J.P. Unity of Peterborough'. J.P. meaning Justice of the Peace (similar to a magistrate). Unity of Peterborough (look it up on Google).
During his time in USA Cecil appears to have got into some personal financial difficulty. Because of that Robin (as above) is reported that paid for Hugh and Ralph's education on the under-standing that Cecil would reform himself.
I have not yet delved into the shipping passenger lists but they would confirm if there was only one Cecil Foster and also show the dates when he (and his family) travelled back and forth across the Atlantic.
It was Cecil's son Hugh that was the Architect of our Church (not Cecil) and thus my reason for interest in the family. Research has produced quite a lot about him. Unfortunately he volunteered for service in the First World War and was killed in 1915 and has no heirs. Our Church was consecrated in August 1908 so Hugh was probably only 24 years old when he designed it.
Sioux Queries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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