My Genealogy Hound

DeWITT C. BENJAMIN, deceased, Hudson. Mr. Benjamin was born in Red Rock, Columbia Co., N. Y., May 28, 1820; he received his early education at the Academy at Kinderhook, N. Y., and, being a great student, became proficient in Latin and Greek at quite an early age; When 16 years old, he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, three years later, was licensed to exhort; in 1841, he received his first license as local preacher. In October, 1849, he was married to Miss Sarah Swartz, who was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., March 6, 1821. Four years after their marriage, they came to Illinois, locating in Hudson Township, this county, where his widow and the surviving members of the family, with the exception of one daughter (Mrs. Price), now reside; they had a family of six children, three of whom are living — Mary and Martha, graduates of Wesleyan University, now at home, and Annie, wife of Scott Price; they have lost three — Roger, died July 6, 1861; Emma, Nov. 10, 1864, and their son, DeWitt C., who was a graduate of the Wesleyan University, died Feb. 8, 1875. Mr. B., for many years, was an earnest worker in the cause of Christ, traveling through the West and Northwest, contributing also liberally to societies in need and to institutions of learning, always lending a helping hand; for some years he served as one of the Trustees of the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, and to this institution he contributed liberally and gave much of his time to its work and needs. His widow still occupies the farm in Hudson Township, which contains 730 acres of land; the heirs also own 960 acres of land in Kansas.