| Notes |
- From his obituary in Goshen, IN, March 21, 1909
He started working at aged 14. He worked for ten years in a distillery.
He and Martha Stewart, of Smithville, Canada, were married in 1839 in Manchester, NY. They moved to Elkhart Co., October 9, 1847. They lived on a farm near Middlebury for fifteen years, then purchased and conducted for two years, the Middlebury House. Then they moved to Goshen where they took charge of the National Hotel. Thy subsequently resided in White Pigeon, Elkhart and Warsw. Mr. Benham aquired considerble real estate, including three business blocks in Goshen. He was a member of the First M.E. church.
He had six children, one dying in infancy. For other preceded their parents in death, Mrs. C. D. Sherwin, Mrs. Mary Hill, Mrs. Delia Swartz, and Frank Benham. Mrs. John Wurster is the only surviving child, and Robert Wurster, the only grandchild.
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Robert Dickson Benham
B. Aug. 25, 1818 in Hopewell, Ont. Co. N:.Y. Died March 21,1909, in Goshen Ind
buried in Oak Ridge Gem. Goshen. Married May 26, 1839 to Martha Stewart of
Smithville Ont. Can. B. Mar 8, 1820, died Dec. 7, 1901 .Married in Manchester, N.Y.
They moved to Elkhart Co. on Oct. 9, 1847.
In the 1850 Census he was in Middlebury Twp., Elkhart Co., Ind.
Robert D. Benham 34 farmer 1500.00 born NY
Martha nee Stewart 30 Can
Mary A. 10 Can
Nancy 5 Can
Cordelia 1 Ind.
In the 1860 Census, same location
Robert D. Benham 42 farmer 4025 700 born NY
Martha 39 Can
Mary A. 20 Can
Nancy 14 Can
Cordelia 10 Ind
Emma 9 Ind
Frank 3 Ind
Chauncy Smith Laborer
In the 1870 Census, Elkhart Twp, Elkhart Co., Goshen, Ind.
Robert D. Benham 53 farmer 10,000 2500 born NY
Martha 50 Can
Mary Ann "Hill" 24 Can
Cordelia "Swartz" 21 Ind
Emma "Wurster" 19 Ind
Frank 13 Ind
N. Madison *Mattison 73 Pa
(this must bw Nancy Dickson, Robert's mother)
In the 1900 Census
1027 S. Main St., Goshen, Ind.
Robert D. Benham 81 Married 61 years born NY
Martha 80 Naturalized Can
Clara Howard 24 Domestic Ind
Children:
Mary Ann born 1840, Canada died 1884, Goshen, Ind. aged 44
Nancy 1845, Canada 1888, Goshen, Ind., aged 43
Cordelia 1848, Indiana 1873, Goshen, Ind, aged 25
Emma 1851, Indiana married John Wurster, had a son Robert J. Wurster
Frank 1857 Indiana March 4, 1883, Elkhart, Ind., aged 26
In a letter from Robert to Walter A. Hamilton of Grand Rapids, MI in 1905, stated that this Robert was a grandson of Eli, who had a brother Eben., who had a brother Eben. He said ther was a cousin in too named Eben. whose son John was in Hopewell at the time of this letter (This is our #15552, father of John H.) He said he had a daughter Emma married to a John Wurster who lived at 712 E. Madison, Goshen, Ind. An only grandson at his death was Robert J. Wurster, who was an actor.
The Robert D. Benham burial plot is in Oak Ridge Cem. Goshen Ind.
Charles Benham
2649 Del Ray Dr.
Muskegon , MI 49441
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1818 - 1909 (90 years)
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