Biography - Newton J. Benson
NEWTON J. BENSON, M. D. Having by long practice and wide experience
gained knowledge and skill in his professional career, Newton J. Benson, M.
D., of Goreville, occupies a position of note among the more successful
physicians of Johnson county, while as a druggist he has established a
substantial business and is closely associated with the advancement of the
mercantile interests of this part of the state. He was born March 6, 1848,
in Gallatin county, Illinois, on the farm of his father, James M. Benson.
His paternal grandfather, Charles R. Benson, was born in Virginia, a son of
Babel Benson, who migrated with his family to Kentucky iu the early part of
the nineteenth century. In 1821 Charles R. Benson came to Illinois, settling
in Sangamon county when the country round about was in its virgin wildness.
On account of the prevalence of malaria and other sickness, he soon returned
to Kentucky, and was a resident of Logan county until 1831. He then started
for Sangamon county, Illinois, with his family, but stopped en route in
Gallatin county, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from
the Government. Clearing a space in the midst of the deep, wild woods, he
erected a log cabin, and there resided until his death, which was caused, in
1848, from exposure incurred while on a hunting expedition.
James M. Benson was born February 6, 1822, in Sangamon county, Illinois,
near the present site of the city of Springfield. He spent a few years of
his childhood in Logan county, Kentucky, afterwards living on the home farm
in Gallatin county until 1851. Moving then to Bloomfield township, Jackson
county, he purchased two hundred and forty-eight acres of wild land, and on
the farm which he improved lived and labored many years, it being the estate
now owned and occupied by James S. Benson. In September, 1861, he enlisted
in Company K, Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under command of Captain
William C. Goddard and Colonel Toler, being commissioned first lieutenant of
his company. On November 30, 1862, on account of serious illness, he was
honorably discharged from the service. While in the army he took part in
several skirmishes. He was at Island No. 10, in the Mississippi, from there
going with his comrades to Pittsburg Landing, thence to Corinth,
Mississippi, and from there marched to Tuscumbia, Alabama, thence to
Nashville, Tennessee, traveling on foot all the way and there being
discharged. In 1907, having by dint of industry and wise management
accumulated a competency, he disposed of his farm, and having given each of
his heirs five hundred dollars retained the remainder of his wealth and took
up his residence in Goreville.
On April 10, 1845, James M. Benson was united in marriage with Selinda
Slack, a daughter of William and Mary (Finney) Slack, natives, respectively,
of Kentucky and Virginia. She died April 17, 1900. Four children were born
of their union, namely: Newton J., the subject of this brief sketch; Maggie
A.: A. G.; and James. Maggie A. became the wife of a Mr. Carson and to them
two children were born, as follows: Mrs. Maud Whittenberg, who died in early
womanhood, leaving one child, George W. Whittenberg; and Cora, who married a
Mr. Nave, and at her death left one child Ellen Nave. A. G. Benson married
and has seven children, namely: Mrs. Eva Kuykendall, who has two children;
John, who is married and has two children; Mrs. Mary Hudgens, who has one
child, Earl Hudgens; Arthur, the oldest son; Robert; and Charles and Frank,
twins. James Benson is married and has two children, Eugene and Daniel.
Growing to manhood on the parental homestead, Newton J. Benson began
teaching school when eighteen years old, and five years later, with the
money which he had saved from his scant earnings, he bought a farm of forty
acres. From 1866 until 1874 he taught school, farmed and studied medicine.
In 1873 he sold his land, and with the proceeds entered Rush Medical
College, in Chicago, where he studied faithfully for eighteen months. In the
spring of 1875 he was graduated from the University of Louisville, Kentucky,
with the degree of M. D. Beginning the practice of his profession in Johnson
county, Illinois, Dr. Benson was associated for three years with Dr. W. A.
Looney, of Vienna, and the ensuing three years was there in partnership with
Dr. George Barton. For nearly a quarter of a century longer the Doctor
continued his residence in Vienna, where he built up a good practice, and
where, from 1896 until 1907 he was secretary of the County Pension Board. In
1907 he opened a drug store at Nashville, Illinois, and conducted it a year,
when, in 1908, he came to Goreville, where he is carrying on a profitable
business as a druggist and has a large practice as a physician. He has
accumulated a fair share of this world's wealth, owing a farm of twenty-five
acres near Goreville, and having in addition valuable residential and
business property.
Dr. Benson is a member of the Southern Illinois, the Johnson County, the
Illinois State, and the American Medical Societies. He is a man of good
executive and professional ability, and from 1890 until 1894 served as
assistant superintendent of the Anna Hospital for the Insane. Fraternally he
is a member of Vienna Lodge, No. 150, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of
Masons, at Vienna; and of Gethsemane Metropolis Commandery, No. 41, Knights
Templars, of Metropolis. Religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal
church.
On April 22, 1879, Dr. Benson was united in marriage with Mrs. Emma F.
(Beal) Cole, a daughter of Stephen and Eliza Beal. who migrated from
Pennsylvania, their native state, to Southern Illinois in 1857 when she was
a child of three years. Her first husband, L. "W. Cole, left her a widow
with one child, Mrs. Margaret A. Keithley, whose husband is connected with
the Wheeling Canning Company, at Wheeling, West Virginia. Mrs. Benson is an
active and prominent worker in the Order of the Eastern Star, being a member
of the Grand Chapter of Illinois, and having served as a delegate from
Vienna to the State conferences.
Extracted 14 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 2, pages 693-694.
