MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS BOOK ONE

Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 468
submitted by Ronna Thuman, December 12, 2007

A PIONEER PASSES AWAY
April 16, 1899 (hand written)

A pioneer and honored resident of Muscatine county is no more in the taking from earthly walks of BENJ. CHAMBLISS, who passed away at 6:30 p. m. Sunday at his home in Fulton township, death coming as a result of the ailments ever attendant upon old age, he having reached a milestone in life seldom attained, being in his 92d year. Deceased was one of the largest land owners in Muscatine county, was born in Greenville county, Va., July 11th, 1807, one of a family of nine children. He was reared to manhood in his native state, receiving his education in the subscription schools and subsequently learning the carpenter’s trade. In 1840 he left his childhood home and emigrated to Marion county, Indiana, where he remained for ten years working at his trade. Thence he came to Muscatine, locating in Fulton township in 1850, he originally entering 160 acres of land, to which he has added as the years went by, until now his estate is possessed of almost 3,000 acres of valuable farm lands in Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska.

He was united in marriage in 1830 to Miss Julia Hill, of Greenville county, Va., to whom eight children were born, the wife and mother passing to the world beyond Jan. 14, 1884. Politically Mr. Chambliss was a staunch democrat, while in private life he was a shrewd, enterprising man of good business ability, yet honest to a fault in all his dealings, he being honored and respected by friend and foe alike, a personage for whose like the world is bettered.

Three daughters and a son survive to mourn his demise.

The funeral is appointed for Wednesday at 11 a. m. from the Pleasant Prairie church, with interment in the Chambliss vault in Fulton township.

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