Miami County, Ohio Genealogical Researchers -- Sponsored by the Computerized Heritage Association


    MRS. FERN BENSON

    MRS. FERN BENSON, whose home is the old Mitchell farm in Section 3, Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, on which she was born, resides on land which has been in the possession of the Mitchell. family for ninety-seven consecutive years. This farm was entered from the Government December 24, 1811, by William Mitchell, the great grandfather of Mrs. Benson.

    William Mitchell was born in Virginia in 1785. His father, Samuel Mitchell, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and a prominent Mason. William served in the War of 1812, after securing his land, in Ohio, and after the close of his military service he engaged in clearing and cultivating the wilderness to which he had come. He married Catherine Stafford, who was born in Ireland in 1778, and died on his farm in 1867. They had eleven children.

    William S. Mitchell received from his father a portion of his land and acre having been deeded by the latter to the church, and which is now occupied by McKendree Church and Cemetery. In its shadow rest William Mitchell and many of his descendants. He had 160 acres of land and his entire life was given to agricultural pursuits. He died in 1884, aged sixty-three years. In 1843 he married Mary Robinson, a daughter of Adin and Jane Robinson. She was born in 1821 and died in 1902. They had two children-Elizabeth and Milton G. Elizabeth was born March 15, 1844, and was married November 7, 1872, to George Brier, no issue resulting. He was a soldier in the Civil War and participated in the battles of Champion Hill, Vicksburg, and Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh.

    Milton G. Mitchell, father of Mrs. Benson, was born August 30, 1845, and died September 17, 1901; he was buried at New Carlisle. He was a soldier in the Sixteenth Ohio Battery during the Civil War. In politics he was a Republican but took no active part in public affairs. In Free Masonry he had reached the Knight Templar degree. He was a consistent member of McKendree Church. He married Celestia Iliff, a daughter of James and Mary (Umble) Iliff, and they had four children; Fern, Quinn B., Mildred, and an infant, deceased. Quinn B. graduated from the Bethel High School and also attended the Ohio State University for one year. He married Angeline Wright, a daughter of Dr. T. M.Wright, and they have a daughter, Priscilla. Quinn B. represents the fifth generation to reside on and cultivate the Mitchell farm. All the Mitchell, family have been members of McKendree Church. Mildred is a graduate of the Bethel High School and also spent one year at the Springfield High School and one year at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. She is now residing at home. Mrs. Mitchell, the mother of these children, taught school for nine years.

    Fern Mitchell grew to young womanhood in the parental home. She was graduated from the New Carlisle High School, after which she spent one year at the Ohio Normal University at Ada and a similar length of time at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. She married Austin Benson and they have two children Raymond Mitchell and Mary Virginia.

    Austin Benson is a son of James C. and Anna (Dunkelbarger) Benson, and a grandson of Abraham and Mary (Runkle) Benson. The children of the grandparents were Barbara, Sarah, Mary, John, Abraham, Daniel, James C., Jesse, and Simeon. Abraham Benson was born in Pennsylvania and after coming to Ohio lived in Clark County.

    James C. Benson, now living, was born March 2, 1851, and married Anna Dunklebarger, born February 6, 1851, a daughter of Samuel Dunklebarger; they had two children-Austin and Charles. Austin Benson is well known throughout Miami County as a composer and music publisher. Charles, who married Daisy Hall, daughter of John Hall, is a physician at Tippecanoe City.

    Return to the Biography Index

    Return to Main Page


    Copyright © 1998 by Computerized Heritage Association.
    All Rights Reserved.