Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-02-07
Obituary

VOtitIHc-' ,SHliiA ~ @At'' ii''' ''''" ~
.aa I,ehsoa and was born on he
18Th das Of april. 1884, re.a' SION
terey. in what was then I'ith TO-.
now Highland county, Virg MA.
His father.died when he was quite
Young, and he remained with his
mother on the home farm till the
breaking ont Of the late war. In
| 1861 he volunteered in tine first
company organized in Highland
county. which was afterwards
known in the Confederate army as
Company C, Of the Slst Regiment
of infantry, and was. IN almost ev
ery battle of that famous regiment
during the four yearsof the war.
He was taken prisoner Twice during
the war: first. at the battle Of Ale
ghany Mt, in December, 1862. and
was imprisoned in Camp Chase,
but soon made his escape by TIM
nelling out with a piece of knife,
and reached home. The second
time, he WAS captured by General
Ayerell, when he made his-tsid on
the county court, in Monterey. ir
August. 1863. DE was again car
red TO Camp Chase and again made
his escape from PRISON; this time
by making friends with Irish work
men, who were brought into the
prison every day to cat II ditch.
They furnished him a snit OF
clothes and pick land after work.
ing with them all day. in the even
ing he marched ont Of prison with
them. His escape this time was
soon discovered and he was recap
tured. The commander Of the
prison then subjected him to the
most inhumau torture to make him
tell who had assisted him to escape
and, although almost put to death,
he bravery refused to tell. His
friends and relatives in the North
were yeTy kind to him whilst IN
prison, and he was thus enabled to
relieve the suffering and want Of
many a poor comrade. One Of his
relatives who was very kind to him
was the father of the present Sci
ator-elect Of Ohio. Joseph Benson
| Foraker. He sent Mr.. Benson at
one time two suits of clothes, with
the affectionate message: Wear
one yo;tfself and give the other to
some other d--,n traitor to hi
country" Mr.. Benson was brave
and fearless soldier--at al times
prompt and cheerful in the dis
charge Of every dnty.
After the war he settled on his
farm near Monterey and lived there
the balance Of bis life. In the year
1866, Mr.. Benson married Miss Adj
eliza Bird, a daughter of DR.. James
H. Bird, of Back Greek. She died
about a year ago. Their child e
now living are, Mrs. L. Il. Camp
bell, Of West Virginia; Mr.. james
N. Benson, and two younger
daughters, Of Highland county.
He has one sister living, Mrs. Dir.
Adam Given, Of Louisville, Ky.
Mr, Benson never held any i'm
portant public office in the county,
bat no man took more active III
terest, or welded more influence
il the county elections. He was
il very active and energetic man ii
everything he undertook. Vas
fearless and Independent in his
opinions on all questions of the
! day, and was always remarkably
WILL posted and ready IN discussing
any question. His friendship was
of tie truest type. There was
nothing like deceit in his compost
ton. He was always open, frank,
courageous. and generous to a
fault both to friend and foe. To
the sick he was ready at all times
TO minister, and his faithful, gentle
cheerful and intelligent services
never failed to relieve the suffering
and comfort the afflicted. He was
a great sufferer the last few months
of his life, but he bore his affection
with Christian resignation. lie
had been member Of the Presby-
tcrian church Of Monterey for a
number Of wears, and, knowing his
end was approaching, he calmly
discussed every detail and met
! death as he had lived, without fear
and without reproach.
He died in Monterey, Virginia,
Oh the 25th day Of January, 1896,
and was laid to rest in the bcauti-
ful little cemetery which overlooks
the town.
"IIcw beautiful It is for man to die
Upon the walls of Zion; to be called
Like a watch worn and weary sentinel
TO put his armour off, and rest in
heaven 5.