Biography - Eli M. Benfield
ELI M. BENFIELD, dealer in groceries and provisions, established his
business in 1883, in Abingdon, of which city he is a resident. He may be
considered one of Knox County's most wide-awake and industrious citizens,
and is respected by all who know him for his upright character and his
ability in business. He engaged in his present vocation, leaving his
occupation as a butcher to do so, at which he has been fairly successful.
Mr. Benfield is of German descent and was born in Crawford County, Pa., May
27, 1838, and is the son of Daniel and Catherine (Baughman) Benfield. He
came to DeKalb Co., Ill., in 1857, and, removing to Maquon in 1858, began
farming. Entering the Government service as a mechanic in the late war, he
was engaged six months at Nashville, Tenn.
He was united in marriage Jan.13, 1858, at Maquon, with Elizabeth Housh [the
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Ely M. Benfield marrying a
Elizabeth Housh in Knox County on January 13, 1859]. She is the daughter of
David Housh, and was born July 28, 1841, at Maquon. The union of Mr. and
Mrs. Benfield has been productive of the birth of eight children, one son
and seven daughters, as follows: Charles D., born Sept. 8, 1860, Principal
of the Commercial Department of Hedding College; Bessie Belle, born May 23,
1867; Amanda Jane, born Feb. 26, 1869; Catherine Lulu, born June 27, 1871;
Melissa D. H., born Sept. 3, 1874; Sarah Blanche, born March 6, 1876; Mary
Adeline, born March 11, 1878, and died Sept. 6, of the same year, and Jessie
Eveline, born Dec. 25, 1884, in Abingdon. All the above children, except the
last named, were born in Haw Creek Township.
Mr. Benfield's father was born in Lehigh County, Pa., and was of German
descent. His mother was a native of the same place and of like ancestry.
Mrs. Benfield's parents were pioneers in Knox County, and her mother, who
was born in Greencastle, Ind., claimed as ancestors people of English,
Irish, Scotch and Welsh nationality.
Her father, David Housh, was born in Kentucky, July 29, 1880, and died May
24, 1879. At the age of three years he moved to the frontier north of the
Ohio River and settled in the wilds of Indiana, among the Indians, where the
face of a white man was seldom seen. At the beginning of the War of 1812 the
white families were compelled to move into forts, which they occupied for
three years. He witnessed one or two massacres, in one losing some
relatives, after which, with a brother, he started out to avenge them
through the blood of whatever Indians they were able to put to death. He
heard the great and noted speech of the warrior Tecumseh, before the battle
of Tippecanoe, and was often heard to pronounce it one of the best efforts.
In 1826, he married Elizabeth Thornbrough and again moved to the frontier,
where they lived until 1836. At the close of that year he moved to Knox
County and settled in Haw Creek Township and made a few acquaintances,
Daniel Meek and John Dawdy being among the first, and as all three were
extremely fond of hunting, and possessed a love for fast horses, a spirit of
rivalry existed in the endeavor to see who could get the best. Mr. H. laid
out a mile track, which afterward became quite a resort for patrons of the
turf. He raised fine blooded horses, in which he took much pride, and also
engaged in milling and distilling, and later in mercantile pursuits. He cast
his first vote for President with the Jackson Democrats, and has voted at
each election the same ticket. He retired from business with the exception
of giving some attention to farming, enjoyed a ripe old age and died honored
and respected.
Eli M. Benfield moved to Abingdon in December, 1879. While at Maquon he was
a contractor and builder, and had also an interest in a harness business. He
possessed a love for farming pursuits, which he followed in a small degree,
but after the war came to the city in which he at present resides, and
engaged in the occupation of a butcher until 1883. In that year he
established his present business, as previously stated. He and his wife are
parents of three children, and they are people of influence, kindly feeling,
and labor for the good of others. They are connected with the Methodist
Episcopal Church and are respected by the community of which they are
members. Politically he votes the Democratic ticket.
(The statement in the last paragraph about "three children" is confusing
since eight children are named in the third paragraph.)
Contributed by Todd Walter, extracted from the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, page 546
