Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-27
A BUSY LIFE ENDED.
MR.. JOHN BENsIEY PASSES AWAY AT THE
RIPE AGE OF SEVENTY YEARS.

The subject of this article has a
remarkable history. He is entitled to
the Iamdations from an abler pen than
ours. His life forms part of the early
history of one of the richest states In
the Union-Califernia In his Califor-
nian DAYS he welded immense power
on account of his great wealth. In the
most successful period Of his life he
was quoted at SO, 100000. Those who
knew him intimately during this time
speak of his Eberality and good deeds
an profusion. Many of the now
wealthy men in San Francisco owe their
success to his help and advice. Ia fact
what ruined Mr- Bensley was his kind
ness IN endorsing paper for his friends
He never permitted deserving person
to leave him, when in need Of help.
without first aiding them He had
generous heait and while his wealth
lasted he made excellent use of IT. 1t
as said that in building that great canal
in San Francisco he lost a large portion
of the Centralia Mill and Waterpower
by loaning his nephew, Mr.. Garrison,
a large amount Of money and taking
security upon that property. Coming
into possession of the Garrison saw mill
water power and lands, brought him
into the knowledge and acquaintance
of the Grand Rapids and Centralia
people. During his stay here we have
learned to know him as he was in his
latter years.
While Mr.. and Mrs. John Bensley
g1ave resided in our sister city Centralia
they have distributed great deal of
money. Changing the saw mill into the
present pulp mill, and widening and
deepening the slough, they distribute
among the working people Of both
cities large amount of money. They
own and operate one of the largest pulp
mills in either city and distributed
during the year several thousand dol
lars While Mr. Bensley has been
among us he Eever eni0yed the best Of
Disease which was one of the principal
causes of his death Last fall he in
company with Mrs. Bensley left for
California where they spent the winter.
His health was comparatively good.
They left California the fore part of
June and Mr.. Bensley was feeling, if
anything, better than usual. He con-
tinued well until they reached Council
Bluffs where he received q stroke of
PARALYSIS from which he never rallied.
He reached has home in Centralia only
in time to live few days, and died
Wednesday morning at 8 O'Clock June
1Qth.
The San Francisco Bulletin of last
February contained the following
sketch of his life: Born in New York,
of an old American family, he gradu-
ated from Columbia College in 1880, and
as early as 1899 he aided, in person, in
opening an overland route into Mexico.
He was captain of volunteers in the
American army in the Mexican war,
and Chapultepec, and for short time
was held by the enemy He arrived in
California in June, 1919, having shortly
before leaving New York City, dispatch
ed bark from that port with a cargo OF
groceries for Sacramento. In this
enterprise he was one of a company OF
ten, with capital of 100000. He had
already fortune of $164,000, made in
Mexico in trade prior to the war, and
in sales of mules to the army during
the struggle, having shipped the
animals from New York He establish
ed a business house in Sacramento
carried on freighting between that
city and the mines, and before the
year 1S49 had closed he had gone back
to New York City and sent out to this
port the still famous river steamboats,
Confidence" and "Willson G. Hunt"
Mr.. Bensley WAS one of the founders ot
the California Steam Navigation Com
pany, and director thereof, down tC
the sale to the railroad company in 1871
Works generally known as the Bensler
Water-Works) with A. w. Won Schmidt
and Anthony Chabot, and introduced
the first general and regular water
supply here. OF this company he was
President until its consolidation with
the Spring Valley Water-Works
Prominent among his other enterprises
was the San Joaquin and Kings River
Canal and Irrigation Company, incor
porated March Z, 1866. He advanced
the money and directed the construc
ton of forty miles of canal built by
that company and which was the incep
ton in California on a broad and scien
tific plan, of the new great work o
irrigation. He also organized the
Clear Lake Water-Wolks in 1866 anC
always believed that Clear Lake is des
tined to be the permanent source o
water supply for thus city. He was thu
protector of the Pacific Rolling Mills
incorporated in 1865, D. o. Mills anC
William Alvord being his associates
lie selected the location for those work
and was the largest shareholder, tinall.
selling his interest to James g. Fai
and Nicholas Luning. The Pacific Oh
and Lead Works, Pacific Dredgin
Company, Tuoiumne County Wate
Company and Black Diamond Goa