ELI JAMES BENWAY
Eli
James Benway has since 1881 conducted a profitable blacksmith
shop in Norwood, Lucas county, where he is widely and
favorably known for his sound business principles, his honest
dealing, his reliability and his genial and pleasant
disposition, which leads him to readily make friends. He was born in
Essex county, New York, on January 1, 1848, a son of Eli
Willard and Charlotte (Monty) Benway, natives of New York, the
former being born in 1827 and the latter in 1832. In 1858 the family
removed to Vermont, where the father followed the occupation
of blacksmith. In
that state the mother died in 1859 and from there the father
enlisted for service in the Civil war in 1862 with the
Eleventh Vermont Volunteer Infantry, belonging to the Sixth
Army Corps, remaining in the field for the term of his
enlistment. At
the end of that period he retuned home but subsequently
reenlisted, doing valiant service until the close of the war. The father passed
away in Kansas in 1892.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Eli W. Benway were three
sons, all natives of New York, as follows: Eli J., of this
review; Wallace, a resident of Huntington, Vermont; and Henry
C., who makes his home in Illinois. All follow the blacksmith’s trade.
Eli J. Benway was reared under the parental roof and received his education in New York and Vermont, making removal with the family to that state in 1858. There he learned the blacksmith’s trade from his father, remaining until 1868, when he came to Illinois, where he made another stay of ten years, coming in 1878 to Chariton, Iowa, where he conducted a shop near the present site of the Inland Coal Company’s plant. The year 1881 marks his arrival in Norwood, where he has since followed his trade with conspicuous success. His shop is well and modernly equipped and he engages in general blacksmithing and repair work and as he deals fairly and squarely with his patrons, has built up a valuable and extensive patronage which brings him gratifying returns. He has become a substantial man of his community and is very popular with the public.
In
December, 1868, Mr. Benway was married to Miss Maria Richman,
who was born in Peoria, Illinois, on December 7, 1850, and was
reared there. Her
parents were Bryan and Ann (Colby) Richman, both natives of
England, the latter being born in Lincolnshire. The father died in
Otter Creek township, this county, the mother preceding him in
death, passing away in Peoria, Illinois, in 1854. In their family
were three children: Mrs.
Benway; Lucy, who died at the age of two years; and William,
also deceased. All
were natives of Illinois.
To Mr. and Mrs. Benway were born six children, of whom
Addie, the second in order of birth, died at the age of two
weeks. The
others are: Walter,
born in October, 1870, a resident of Otter Creek township;
Mrs. Lona Boston, born January 17, 1874, residing in Jackson
township; Harry, born May 19, 1878, of Allerton, Iowa; Mrs.
Della Wright, born December 17, 1880, of Chariton, Iowa; and
Mrs. Grace Poush, born January 22, 1882, of Otter Creek
township. The
three eldest of the family were born in Illinois and the
remainder in Iowa.
Mr. Benway affiliates with the democratic party, keeping well informed upon all public issues. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Norwood, to which she gives her moral and material support, and he is a member of Norwood Lodge, No. 490, I. O. O. F. He owns a comfortable residence, set in two acres of land, on which also is located his blacksmith shop. Both he and his wife enjoy the highest confidence and respect of the community, in which they have made many friends during a residence extending over thirty years.