Benjamin Albertson

    Benjamin Albertson, farmer and stock-raiser, Penn Township, Jay County, was born in Henry County, Indiana, July 21, 1845, a son of William and Mary (Davis) Albertson. His father was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, September 4, 1814, a son of Benjamin and Margaret Albertson, and came to Indiana in his boyhood. His mother was born in Henry County, November 5, 1823, a daughter of Nathan and Lydia Davis, who were of Welsh descent, and early settlers of Henry County, Indiana. His mother died October 12, 1849, and his father October 19, 1858. After the death of his mother his father married Rebecca Lawrence, with whom he lived a year after his father's death.

    He then went to work on a farm for Ansalem Johnson, who promised to give $5 a month, but at the end of the year gave him $7 for meritorious conduct. He remained with him two years, and while there attended school during the winter. He then went to Spiceland, where he attended school some time, and was employed on what was the Indiana Central Railroad for over a year, then was employed as clerk in the drug store of J. W. Johnson six months, when he became a partner in the business. A year and a half later he sold his interest and went to Minnesota, where he remained until the following March, when he formed a partnership with B.F. Hinshaw in the drug and grocery business, which was continued two years. In 1870 he engaged in the manufacture of tile, and five years later, in April, 1875, he came to Jay County and settled on his present farm, which contained eighty acres of land only seven of which was but partially cleared. this land he has cleared and now has it under a high state of cultivation.

    Mr. Albertson was married December 24, 1867, to Lenora L. Hinshaw, a native of Henry County, Indiana, born October 10, 1848, a daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Morgan) Hinshaw, the former a native of Guilford County, North Carolina, and the latter of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Albertson have five children -Dumont, born August 7, 1873; Angie L., December 27, 1874; Mary E., April 23, 1879; Florence, June 14, 1881; William F., August 26, 1883.

    In politics Mr. Albertson is a Republican. He is a member of the Society of Friends.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford County, Indiana. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1887, page 504