Phoebe J. Benedict

1866 - April 7, 1886

The April 20, 1886 issue of the Neillsville Times indicates that the wife of Charles H. Benedict died earlier that month (Wednesday, 7 April 1886) at her home in York Township and the funeral took place at the Methodist Church at York Center on Friday, 9 April 1886.  The article also said she had not yet reached the age of 20, implying that Phoebe was born around 1866.  Phoebe passed away shortly after the birth of her son, Ray Edward Benedict; who was born on March 23, 1886. 

Charles Benedict was a son to Adonijah and Clarissa Benedict, early pioneers of York Township.  Phoebe J. (nee Mabie) Benedict is believed to be the daughter of S. Alanson Mabie, who is also interred at York Center Cemetery.  Alanson Mabie was the second husband of Lucretia Young whom she married after her first husband, Nelson Young died from an accidental death in 1885.

Charles Henry Benedict and Phoebe J. Mabie were married on March 16, 1886.  After Phoebe's death, Charles married Mildred Alice Davidson in York Township on June 15, 1891.  Mildred Davidson was a daughter of Daniel and Mary (nee Morehouse) Davidson.  The 1880 Federal Census for York Township lists a Mildred Davidson (7) living with her grandmother, Maria (66); her father, Daniel (35) and her uncles, Aaron (30) and Martin (26).  Mildred's mother, Mary, was not listed as she passed away in 1878.  Mildred's grandmother, Maria Davidson, is also buried at York Center Cemetery.

After Phoebe Benedict died; her son, Ray, was initially raised by Sophronia (nee Windsor) Lawrence/Bassett until Ray was about eight or nine years old.  After that, Ray went to live with one of Charles Benedict's brothers in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.  Sophronia Bassett was the mother of Margaret Benedict, Charles Benedict's sister-in-law.  To the left is a photo of Phoebe's son, Ray Benedict, when he was an adult.

The Charles Benedict farm originally consisted of 40 acres located in Section 8, just southwest of the 40 acre farm in Section 9 owned by his brother and sister-in-law, Sanford and Margaret Benedict.  Later, the farm was owned by Robert and Marion (nee Bolton) Thomson; Marion being a daughter to Samuel Bolton and sibling to Hugh and Eva Bolton.  After the Thomsons, the original Charles Benedict homestead land was then bought by Leo and Lulu Kronberger; Lulu being a granddaughter of Sanford and Margaret Benedict. 

Since records indicate that plot B-6 was owned by C. H. Benedict, it is very probable that Mrs. C. H. (Phoebe) Benedict was buried at that plot.