Evening journal., 1888-12-03
NATHANIEL r. BENSON.
The Veteran ship Builder Died of
Brights's Disease This sIornrnE-A Busy
and Industrious Life.

Brights's Disease This MornfnE-A Busy
and Industrious Life.
Nathaniel r. Benson. the veteran shin.
builder, died at AS o'clock this morn
ing at his residence, corner of Eleventh
and jefferson streets. in this CITY.
aged 6S years Brights disease. from which
he had suffered almost fifteen years. was
the cause Of his death He had not been
out Of the house for the last three months.
but it was only during the last ten DAYS
that his disease assumed dangerous
form. The burial will be made in the
Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery
The funeral services will probably be held
on Thursday The deceased left wife
and seven children, two sons
and five daughters, all of whom
are married and settled IN life
Captain Nathaniel Ratcliife Benson
was born April s, 1920, at Dagsboro. Suss
sex county, Del In 1881, when he was
but II years old, his father removed with
his family to Philadelphia. His early
education was obtained in the public
schools Of Sussex county His surround.
ings led his attention frequently, if not
chiefly, to maritime pursuits, and before
he was IL years old he began the struggle
Of life as an apprentice cook on n schooner.
ofthe type then termed Single weavers.
This business he followed for three sue
cessive seasons, spending his winters AZ
schools in this city. Ia 1884 he started
as deck boy on the wooden side wheel
steamer Wilmington plying between
Philadelphia and Wilmington, his shore
| duty being TO carry the mail TO and from
the post Office. He remained three wears
"a fTr, Il
as fireman and stoker on the steamers
Providence, Narragansett and Mohican.
belonging TO the old Providence Line.
He next spent one year on the tow boat
Indiana, running between New York and
Albany.
He next served as fireman ON the
wooden side wheel steamboat Balloon
which ran, for her first trip, from New
York to Norfolk Va. for the purpose Of
opening the route from Norfolk to Rich
mond. The following year the boat was
run between Philadelphia and Whining
ton Captain Benson remained
with her in the capacity Of fire
man. He next engaged himself in !
1874, as engineer to the wooden |
sidewheel steamer Pioneer, running on |
the Philadelphia route The Balloon, |
Whildn and Pioneer all belonged TO |
Captain Wilmon Whildin, whose name
was long connected with the early history |
of steamboating on the Delaware river. |
For ten years Captain Benson served as |
captain or engineer on one or the other |
Of these boats, until on August |
"a, 1854 he entered the employ of /
the Harlan and Hollingsworth Company. /
lie was from the first given the position /
of superintendent Of hull construction in |
the shipyard, which he held until the end I
of his life, and upon the formation of the \
present corporation lie become a large /
stakeholder. He was married October 5.
1913, to Margaret Purnell Of Smyrna, |
Del, who survives him Their /
children, seven in number, are Re |
becea s.. wife Of L. r. p Dennis. |
manufacturer Of fertilizer at Crisfeld, |
Nd, Susan r. wife Of Henry f. English /
brass founder otthis city Sarah H., wife |
Of George Hoton. proprietor Of stave
mills, Mark Centre, Ohio; Nathaniel r.
a superintendent in the works Of the |
Harlan and Hollingsworth Company
Margaret P, wife of T. j Muhlhausen |
Of Wilmington; Thomas, with the Har
Ian and Hollingsworth Company. and
Nellie H., wife Of Harvey il. smith
train dispatcher at Clayton.
The deceased was a member Of Grace
N. Z. Church Of this city. In politics he
had been a Republican from the earliest
organization of that party until his |
death, but he never sought or held office.
He was director of the Harlan and
Hollingsworth Company. and also |
Of the Artisans Savings Bank. It |
is probable that Nathaniel r. Benson.
Jr., viii succeed his father in the posi- |
tions vacated by his death at the Harlan |
and Hollingsworth works.
The funeral will be held on Thursday |
afternoon at 2.30 o'clock and the burial /
will be made in the Wilmington and /
Brandywine Cemetery.