Benson, David

BENSON, CARSON, LAY, COOPER

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 8/4/2020 at 08:11:50

David Benson, who resides upon section 2, Cedar Township, is one of the pioneers of Washington County. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1832, and is the son of William and Rachel (Carson) Benson, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Tennessee. In 1843, the family came to Washington County, Iowa, and settled on section 1, Marion Township, where the father died June 20, 1878, at the age of seventy-eight years; the mother died in 1861, at the age of fifty-four. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

David was but twelve years old when the family came to this county. He grew to manhood on his father’s farm, and received such education as could be obtained in the pioneer schools of that day. On reaching his majority he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land in Marion Township, which he continued to improve until 1864, when he bought 216 acres of land on sections 1 and 2 of Cedar Township, where he still lives, and to which he has since added seventy acres, making him a fine farm of 286 acres of excellent land, all of which is under a high stated of cultivation.

Mr. Benson first married, in 1853, Miss Lucinda C. Lay, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Daniel and Mary A. Lay. By this union there were ten children: William Henry, born July 12, 1854, now residing in Cedar Township; Mary A., born March 30, 1856, died when a child; Daniel, born April 6, 1858, was drowned in English River June 16, 1871; Louisa, born Feb. 13, 1861, died Aug. 1, 1882; Luzeena, a twin sister of Louisa died in infancy; Rosetta, born Aug. 14, 1863, died Sept. 4, 1884; Melvina, born Aug. 14, 1865, died June 11, 1877; Lucy, born April 7, 1867; Sadie, May 13, 1869; Almira, born June 16, 1871, died in 1877. Mrs. Benson died Jan. 5, 1874, at the age of thirty-six years. Mr. Benson’s second marriage occurred Oct. 17, 1875, when he wedded Maria Cooper, a native of Indiana, daughter of Joseph Cooper. Five children have been born unto them: David, Sept. 2, 1876; Grace, May 14, 1879; Newton, March 5, 1881; Myrtle, born May 11, 1883, died March 2, 1885; Bessie, born Sept. 29, 1885.

Mr. and Mrs. Benson are members of the Baptist Church. Politically, he is a Republican. In his life work Mr. Benson has been fairly successful. By industry, economy and good management, he has been enabled to become the possessor of one of the finest farms in Cedar Township, and has sufficient of this world’s goods to render him and his comfortable through life. He enjoys the respect of his fellowmen to a remarkable degree.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of David Benson, page 366