Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-08-19
READY ron DEATH.
From the Kansas City Journal.

city for over a score of years, died
from a stroke of apoplexy while
standing on the front steps of his
home, COS Penn street, Saturday af.
ternoon. Mr.. Benoist had been Ill
since last November. Saturday he
was In better spirits and apparent
health than usual. He had been
walking about the lawn, and had
just finished giving some instruc-
tions to the gardener, Albert Mas
tin. 1t was probably his intention
to return to the house. He had got
half way up the steps when he fell
to the sidewalk and down the alley
way, where he was found few min.
utes afterwards by Albert Mastin.
His fortune lie estimated at $780,
900, the major portion of which will
be given to the different charitable
institutions of the city.
Mr.. Benoist had no fear of death.
He had prepared for it a long time
ago. Last October he had his coffin
built, and kept II in his house.
When he resided in Baxter Springs,
he bought lot and had the grave
dug, but it filed with water, and he
abandoned it. When he came to
Kansas City he purchased lot in
Forest Hill cemetery. He left min.
ute instructions regarding his
death. with his most intimate
friend, Captain F.. NJ. Darnell. No
religious services were held, and
the funeral was without ostentation.
Mr.. Benoist had had an eventful
career. He was born in the prov
ince of Montreal, Canada. in Sep
TENDER, 1925, of French. Canadian
parents. When II years of age he
went to La Sale, ILL.,, and worked on
the Illinois canal. He worked for
several years on public works, until
he had saved enough money to buy
some wild lands in Williamson
county. When he came to the
United States he did not under.
staud word of English, but by
close application he mastered the
language until he could speak and
write il fluently.
For several years he toiled aud
worked on the land he had pur-
chased until IL was cleared. AT last
he was enabled to open a small
country store on his farm. He con-
tinued to farm and hung a large
horn on the outside of his stores
and when people wanted to buy
something they would blow the
horn and he would respond. He
toiled and prospered. He finally
sold his farm and store and bought
half interest in a small stea m boat
which piled on the Mississippi
river. Later he disposed of the
steamboat and went to Murphys-
boro and De Soto, Ill, where he
opened two stores. In 1869 he wen,
to Baxter Springs, Kansas, and
opened a large mercantile estab.
lishmeut.
General John A. Logan was an
intimate friend of Mr.. Benoist. Gen.
eral Logan had his first law office
in his store. in Nurphysboro, Ill.
He boarded with DR.. Cunningham
General Logan's father.in-law, for
several years. While a great ad.
mirer of General Logan. his gym.
pathies were with the South in the
civil war, but he took no part in the
war.
While in Baxter Springs he was
the authorized trader for the Miami,
Ponca, Ottawa, Wyaudotte and Qua
paw Indians. He supplied the Fort
Scott and Gulf railroad with thous.
ands of ties, and did large bust.
ness among the cattlemen. When
the cattle trade moved further west
he disposed of his business in Bax.
ter Springs and intended going to
New Mexico and opening up large
store. He got as far as Kansas City
where he was taken sick and upon
his recovery he was so favorably
impressed with the city that he de.
cided TO locate there. Since 1877 he
has made Kansas City his home.
He was married in De Soto, Ill,
and two children were born, but
both died. Afterwards he aud his
wife separated, the separation be-
ing an amicable one. He gave his
wife farm, valued at $4,000. Later
she secured a divorce and re-
married.