George Alonzo Benjamin (1871-1959)

BENJAMIN, JOHNSON, BARNUM, SMITH, LAYCOCK, DRISCOLL, COLL, BLANCHARD, FINK, FUNK

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/31/2014 at 20:49:59

From unknown newspaper October 1959

George A. Benjamin was born Oct. 24, 1871 at Princeville, Ill, son of Jedediah and Julia Benjamin. He and his brother, the late O. J. Benjamin, learned the printing trade in the shop of their uncle, Joe Barnum. Their first newspaper publishing was in the town of Sharon Springs, Kansas.

Coming to Nevada form western Kansas the two brothers established the Nevada Journal in 1895, after a year's investigation of various locations. Under Messrs. O. J. and G. A. Benjamin, the Nevada Journal went through successive stages of weekly, semi-weekly, tri-weekly and when it became a daily in June, 1929, Nevada became the smallest town in the state of Iowa to claim the distinction of a daily.

George Benjamin was united in marriage with Grace Johnson, Jan. 15, 1896, the year after he and his brother established the Nevada Journal. Mrs. Benjamin preceded him in death Sept. 24, 1954 after 55 years of married life.

Retired in 1945

George Benjamin retired from the Nevada Evening Journal publishing firm in 1945, selling his interest in the paper to Clayton F. Hansen, business manager of the Journal since 1928.

George Benjamin was an active member of Central Presbyterian Church throughout the years. He had served as an elder, a trustee and on many important committees. During his earlier years he sang with the church choir and with other musical groups. He had also been active in all things for the betterment of Nevada.

At the age of 87, on the morning of Oct. 4, 1959, he quietly passed away in his sleep.

Surviving his are his sister-in-law, Mrs. O. J. Benjamin of Nevada, his niece Mrs. Lawrence Smith of Sioux City, his nephew, Dr. Merle Laycock of McAllen, Texas. Other nieces and nephews include Mrs. Louise Driscoll of San Jose, Calif; Mrs. Floyd Coll of Williams, Oregon; Donald Blanchard of Portland, Oregon and Delmar Fink, Varla Funk, Thurman and Gaylord Funk, all of Wichita, Kansas.