Benson was born in Whitehall, Washington Co., NY during 1823, the son of Seth Peck.   He served his country twice during the Civil War.  He first enlisted with Co. E, 16^th Wis., Inf. and later with Co. G 7^th Wis., Inf.  He was shot in the neck at Wilderness, VA, May 5, 1864 and was able to return to duty only to be wounded again 6 Feb 1865 at Dabney’s Mill.  He was shot in the left hand and near the thigh in the back of his right leg muscle.  His hand required amputation below his fist knuckles.  Although his thumb remained it was inflexible and to compensate, he used a specially designed fork. 

Benson Peck’s Special Fork

Benson married Mary “Jane” Ward (ca. 1831, PA) in Jefferson Co, WI, 29 Dec 1848.  Sixty-five million feet of logs were being sawed annually for shipping down the Yellow River into the Wisconsin River and on to Galena, IL to be sold for $11 per thousand feet.  Nearly every laborer worked at the Saw Mill and Benson was no exception.  He and Jane had 2 children: Ella Ann (Nov 1855, WI, m. John Bishop Rose-div., 2nd m. Ernest Derby) and Hugh Benson (ca. 1873 Lincoln Twp., Wood Co, WI, d. 22 Feb 1888).  When Hugh was 9 yrs. old he accidentally shot himself and was severely wounded.  Later that same year, his mother was frightened to death by a bear while picking berries in the woods near their home.  Hearing footsteps, she turned to see a huge black bear coming toward her.  Dropping her berries, she ran some distance before fainting an falling over a pine log.  After regaining her senses she saw the bear quietly eating her berries and managed to slip away.  The shock was so profound that after several days of illness, she gradually sank and died 21 Sep 1882 failing to celebrate a 52^nd birthday.  Benson died 10 Mar 1888 and that summer his marker was ordered from Sheldon & Sons, W. Rutland, VT, 21 Aug 1888.  Both he and Hugh are buried in the Greenwood, WI City Cemetery.

Benson and Jane had two children:

1. Ella M. Peck – Was born November 1855 in Wisconsin and died sometime after 1920. She married John Bishop "Jack" Rose, Jr., and they later divorced and he married Ludovich "Louise" Stafford.  Her only son was named Warren Hilliary Rose. He was three years old at the time of the 1880 census.  She later married Ernest Derby about 1882.

2. Hugh Benson Peck - Was born about 1873 in Lincoln Twp., Wood County, Wisconsin and died February 22, 1888 in Wisconsin.

News Clips

The Marshfield Times, (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Saturday, March 18, 1882

Accident.

A little boy, son of Benson Peck, living in the town of Richfield, accidentally shot himself on Tuesday last. The wound is quite severe, but not necessarily fatal.

The Waukesha Freeman, (Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wis.) Thursday, October 12, 1882

Wisconsin Items.

Mrs. Benson Peck, of Wood County, was frightened to death by a bear the other day. She was picking berries in the woods near her home, when she heard footsteps, and turning saw a huge black bear coming toward her. She dropped her berries and ran some distance, when she fainted and fell over a pine log. On regaining her senses she saw the bear quietly eating her berries, and managed to slip away without attracting his attention. The shock she had sustained was more than she could bear, however, and after an illness of several days she gradually sank and died.