My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN B. VARNUM, who throughout life has followed farming and is now engaged in that pursuit on section 29, Ora Township, Jackson County, has the honor of being a native of Illinois, for his birth occurred in Monroe County, December 16, 1841. The founder of the family in America was Joseph Bradley Varnum, a native of Wales, who emigrated to this country in 1650, settling in Massachusetts. His son, Moses Varnum, was the grandfather of our subject.

Justice Bradley Varnum, father of Benjamin, was born in Belfast, Me., November 24, 1799, and with his family removed to Ohio, and thence to this state. They camped out near where the city of Monroe now stands, and at length settled upon a farm in Monroe County, making their home in what is now known as New Design. Justice Varnum remained at home until about thirty years of age, and then married. The other members of the family were, Moses, who settled in Ohio; Jewett, of Monroe County; Frederick, who was married in Monroe County, but died shortly afterward; and Susan, wife of Daniel Barker, of Monroe County.

Justice Bradley Varnum married Sarah Dixon, of Monroe County, and then bought and improved a farm in that locality. Attracted by the discovery of gold in California in 1849, he made a trip across the plains with ox-teams to the Pacific Slope. He traveled the entire distance from New England to California by wagon and on foot, this being before the days of railroads. After a year and a-half spent in the west, he returned to Illinois, where his last days were passed. The greater part of his life was devoted to farming. In politics he was an old-line Whig, and was a prominent and influential citizen of the community. His death occurred in 1861.

The mother of our subject was a daughter of Solomon Dixon, and was born in Missouri. When a maiden of seven years she was brought by her parents to Monroe County, Ill., where she grew to womanhood. Her death occurred in 1882. She had six sons who grew to manhood, and lost three children in infancy. John Carlisle was born in 1832, and died in the army in 1861; Austin Dixon, born in 1836, is now living in St. Louis; Horace Addison, born in 1838, died at the age of forty-eight; Leverett Decatur was born in 1844, and is living in New Design, Monroe County; and Justice Frederick, born in 1849, completes the family.

Upon the old home farm, Benjamin Varnum remained until his marriage, at the age of twenty-two, to Sarah, daughter of Louis and Susan (Toland) Barker. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Varnum was celebrated July 22, 1863, and they have five children. Eleanora E., who was born November 10, 1864, died at the age of six months; Carrie L. was born November 14, 1866, and died December 13, 1868; Ethel L., born September 29, 1869, died February 23, 1893; Olive L, born March 28, 1872, died February 8, 1891; Warren J., born November 24, 1874, is living on the home farm with his father. The mother of this family died February 11, 1878, and on the 26th of June, 1880, Mr. Varnum married Minnie Boedaker, a native of Monroe County, Ill. Seven children graced their union: Floyd L., who was born February 11, 1881, and died at the age of eight months; Edwin B., born April 13, 1882; Grover, born September 18, 1884; Homer H., born October 17, 1886, and died at the age of four; James A., who was born October 14, 1888, and died at the age of four; Blanchard B., who was born October 14, 1891, and Nelson C.

Mr. Varnum is a member of the Masonic lodge and Knights of Honor of Ava. He takes an active interest in politics, supporting the Democratic party, and for two terms has served as a member of the County Board of Supervisors, but has never sought or desired political preferment. He has followed farming throughout life, and is a man of very active habits, conducting a large business. By industry and well directed efforts he has become possessed of much property. He has four hundred acres of land in the home farm in Ora Township, eight hundred and sixty acres of the rich land of the Mississippi River bottoms, of which three hundred acres are under cultivation, and a farm of two hundred and fifteen acres in Monroe County, just opposite Crystal City, Mo. He is constantly improving his property and thereby adding to its value. He has a splendid home near Ava, and the Varnum household is noted for its hospitality and good cheer.