The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-10-16
| HOW BENSON
| DOOMED town
Borrowed $4,000 each From Ten
Citizens and Started Ten New
Factories All at
Once.
THEN PAID IT BACK
His Little SUBDIVISION to the City
Caused Increase of Several
Thousands in
Population.
THEN PAID IT BACK

Ben Benson was buried yesterday.
/ Pease to his ashes Although he
went insane and died a horrible death.
4 every heart in Keokuk mourns for
him. for he was certainly live wire
In Keokuk- If every citizen had been
as energetic as Ben was, Keokuk
would have 10000 population today
instead of the $1,000 souls It has.
I Beuson's achievement will bear re-
/ pearing over and over again for it is
an interesting story Of genius, hard
( work and energy. Benson borrowed
/ 100000 on his name which was alb
solutely worthless. Paid back the en-
tire sum with interest in two years
and made a neat sum for himself be-
sides giving Keokuk ten new factories
and increasing the population by al
least 1000 people. if not more He
did this all on his nerve and hustle.
He worked out successful plan. was
on the uproad toward prosperity and
then his reason snapped from over
work and he died an imbecile His
funeral yesterday was one of the
largest attended in keokuk for many
years
Benson's great achievement began
in the spring Of 1911 when he gained
the confidence OF ten Keokuk citi-
zens. each Of whom loaned him s1o,-
900 on his note. Probably he had 800
of his Owl, therefore he was virtually
without means and his notes were
worthless. But the wealthy citizens
OF Keokuk has confidence in his plan
and were willing TO take the risk.
He banked the 100000 received and
the ten citizens put their notes for
$4,000 away in their strong boxes
and awaited Developments
Benson took lie 100000 and start
ed ten different factories at the edge
of town, where he had bought several
acres of land. He had ten brick build
ings erected and the vacant land
plotted out into lots b. the spring
Of 1912 his new addition to Keokuk
was completed. II was as follows:
The ten little factory buildings were
standing in row and the railroad
had been induced TO build switch 10
them. Nearby were lots plotted of
for residences. but as yet none OF
them had been sold or any start made
toward building upon them. The fac
tories completed, Benson had but
$4,000 left Of the money which had
been loaned him, or $1,000 TO install
each factory.
But he got them. He induced six
small manufacturing industries from
nearby towns TO move 10 Keokuk by
Offering cheap rental in the new build.
ingg. They cost him nothing but the
expenses Of the trips he made to the
nearby towns. He put s. 600 into
machinery and supplies for a small
wood working factory, employing %
men and began manufacturing such an
insignificant article as washboard.
BY influencing the jobbers of the city,
( his output was taken care Of and this
little factory was a paving venture
\ from the start.
He started horse collar factory in
another building and small soap fac
tory In another Another building
vas turned into cream separator
1 factory.
Four factories were owned by him,
While six we're merely renters of his
buildings. When every building was
occupied he had less than 81 1000 in
the bank. Of the borrowed money.
With the beginning OF activity at
the manufacturing suburb, there came
a call for the vacant lots and they
we're sold some for cash and some
on time Small cottages began to
spring up on the land and the city
saw the necessity Of opening up the
| streets 10 the spot.