Israel S. Benbow
Mr. and Mrs. Israel S. Benbow
This well known citizen of Grant County lives eight miles south of Marion, on the Liberty and green Township pike, near Oak Ridge, where he is the owner of a well-cultivated tract of land. Mr. Benbow has long been identified with the agricultural interests of his section and has also been active in public life, serving as a member of the board of county commissioners of Grant County for three years. He was born on a farm in Monroe Township, grant County, Indiana, July 8, 1868, and is a son of Thomas and Hannah E. (Jenkins) Benbow.
Thomas Benbow was also born in Grant County, Indiana, June 11, 1836, and was a son of Evan Benbow, the latter being a son of John Benbow, who came to Grant County, Indiana, as early as 1833 from Guilford County, North Carolina, and settled on a farm in Mill Township, among the pioneers. Thomas Benbow adopted the vocation of farming in his youth, and was so engaged in Monroe Township at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War. While other young men of his community he enlisted for service in the Union army, becoming a private in the Fifty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. When peace was declared between the North and the South, Mr. Benbow resumed his farming operations, and for a long period continued to be engaged therein in Monroe Township, but is now living retired from active life, having a comfortable home at Gas City. He was married in 1858 to Hannah E. Jenkins, who survives him. She was born in Monroe Township, Grant County, Indiana, a daughter of Israel Jenkins, a pioneer of Grant County, Indiana. Israel S. is the eldest of their children.
Israel S. Benbow received his education in the district schools of Monroe Township, which he attended during three months each winter, the rest of the year being spent in assisting his father and brothers in the work of the homestead. It was but natural that he should adopt farming as a vocation, and at the time of his marriage he located on his present farm, a handsome property which he has developed to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Benbow is the owner of eighty-two acres in Liberty Township and eighty acres in Section 13, Center Township, all of this property having been acquired through the medium of his own efforts. He carries on general farming and has also been successful in the raising of stock, and is recognized as one of the progressive, intelligent men of this part of the county.
On February 28, 1893, Mr. Benbow was united in marriage with Miss Belle Nelson, the daughter of James R. Nelson, and a a member of an old and honored Grant County family. Mr. and Mrs. Benbow have had no children. They are consistent members of the New Light Christian Church, and have been liberal in their support of its movements. For many years Mr. Benbow has been stalwart in his support of the principles and candidates of the Republican party, and has served his fellow-townsmen as county commissioner of Grant county, a position to which he was elected in 1907, and held for three years, and as justice of the peace in Monroe Township, before he was married, a capacity in which he acted two years. In both of these offices he displayed ability and a conscientious regard for the duties of public service, winning the confidence of his townsmen, a confidence that he has been able to retain to the present time.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.