Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 357
BENJAMIN CHAMBLISS, one of the largest land-owners of Muscatine County, was born in Greenville County, Va., July 11, 1807, and is a son of Henry and Chany ( Clemens ), Chambliss. His partenal grandfather had a family of twenty-eight children, and Benjamin was one of a family of nine, of whom Webster, was the eldest ; M. A., born in 1822, is now residing in Xenia, Ohio, and for upward of forty years past has been foreman of the Miami Powder Mills ; Elizabeth, Sarah, and Martha, are all deceased ; Mary is a resident of Virginia, and Nancy L. is living on the old homestead in that State.

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native county, receiving his education in the subscription schools, and subsequently learned the carpenter's trade. In 1840 he left his childhood home and emigrated to Marion County, Ind., where he remained for ten years working at his trade. At the expiration of that time He continued his journey westward to Muscatine County, landing in Fulton Township on the 16th of June, 1850. He there entered 160 acres of land, and became a dealer in real estate, steadily adding to his possessions by thrift and enterprise, until he is now the owner of 2,600 acres of land, 800 in Muscatine County, 160 in Hancock County, Ill., and the remainder in Otoe County, Neb.

In 1830, in Greenville County, Va., Mr. Chambliss was united in marriage with Julia Hill, who was a native of that county, and a daughter of Thomas Hill, who had a family of four children, namely ; Catherine, who is now deceased ; Nathaniel, the second in order of birth ; Julia, wife of our subject ; and Washington. Eight children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Chambliss, six of whom are living : Virginia, who was born in the Old Dominion in 1831, is now married and has a family of eleven children, namely: Benjamim F., Samantha E., Sylverter M., Charles A. ( now deceased ), Jesse A., Nora S., John J., Julia M., William L., Hattie M.,and Emily E. Hester, Mrs. Joseph Brunnell, lives in Nebraska ; Rodgers, the third child, is a resident of Oregon ; Jefferson, who wedded Lizzie Charter, of Pittsburgh, Pa., is now living on Muscatine Island; Christina is the wife of E. S. Smith, a resident of Nebraska, and to them have been born eight children, seven of whom are living ---Alice, Laura, Effie, Walter, Eddie, Marsha and Ray; America wedded william Diffendaffer, whose home is in Nebraska, and they have four children, two living, Orpha and Lilly; Theresa is the wife of Nelson Henderson, of Nebraska, and to them have been born four children---Blanche, Eddie, Luella and Ross. The mother of these children was called to her final home Jan. 14, 1884. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a kind and loving wife and mother, and was beloved by all who knew her. Her remains were interned is a beautiful vault in Parr Cemetery, which is large enough for six persons, and is of a most beautiful design, being lined upon the inside with fine marble, while all the cells are air-tight.

Politically, Mr. Chambliss is a Democrat, but is not a strong partisan, having voted a number of times for the man of his choice, regardless of party. A shrewd, enterprising man of good business ability, yet srtictly honest in all his dealings. Mr. Chambliss has been remarkably successful in his business enterprises, and is one of the leading citizens of Muscatine County, known and honored throughout the community. He is one of whom it may be justly said that his word is as good as his bond, and now in his eighty-second year, is hale and hearty, and more active than many younger men. We are pleased to have his portrait and that of his late estimable wife accompany this brief sketch.

---

Back to 1889 History of Muscatine Co. Index Page

Back to the Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb Index Page