Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1911-06-08
CYNTHIA A. BENGE.

On last Thursday, midnight, at tht
home OF her daughter. Mrs. Eph Eskel
son, three miles southeast OF Lexington
death called from this earth one of our
most worthy pioneers in the person o.
Mrs. Cynthia A. Benge. Mrs. Benge
had not been real well for some time,
but feeling some better than common
shs went to the home of her daughter to
spend Jew days: For some hours be-
fore retiring on Thursday evening she
was IN the best of spirits and spent a
very pleasant evening in the home Of
her daughter, but not a great while
alter going to bed she took sick and be-
came suddenly very i'll and died before
aid could be called in Funeral services
were held in the Congregations church
at Lexington on Sunday afternoon, con
| Quoted by Rev. Bradstreet, and the re-
mains were laid to rest in the Odd Fell
lows cemetery at Lexington, being at
tended by very laage number of rela-
tiyes and friends of the deceased; in
fact it seemed as though almost every
one in Lexington and vicinity turned
out to pay their respects to the departed,
for she was a woman who WAS greatly
beloved in that community.
Cynthia A. Shelter was born iD Will
Transport, Indiana, December 4, 1892,
and died near Lexington, Oregon, June
|, 1911, aged 78 years, months and 27
days Her parents were Nicholas V.
and Matilda Shelter. She was married
in the state of Indiana to DR.. Lewis
Benge and thew removed to Iowa where
they resided for a number of years
Crossing the plains in 1862, thev settled
in the Walla Walla valley on land on
which part OF the city OF WslIa Walla
now stands. Thev lived in Walla Wala
and Umatilla counties in the early days
and assisted IN pioneering that section
DR.. Benge, while a physician, was also an
educator, ard one OF the early teachers Of
this country, in which work he was ably
assisted by his wife. He was member
of the first board of county commission
ers OF Umatilla county, being an associ- |
ate IN the county conrt with the llte
William Mitcnell. He also served as
school Superintendent of the county by
in the year 1869. DIR.
Benge died December 81, 1872, at Walla
WaIla.
Mrs. Benge came to Morrow county
in 1884, with her family, and settled on
land near Lexington, where she re-
NAMED until the year 1900, when she
left her farm and removed IT, Lexington
to reside in the little home she had
built there. She was the mother of
eleven children, five of them now living
These are Frank H., of Benge. Adams
Wash. Ralph L., OF Lexington;
Mrs. g. M. Henderson, of Culdesac,
Idgho; Mrs. G. 2. Barnett, of Pendle-
,ess, aid Mrs. Eph Eskelson. Of LexinQ-
on. She leaves also fifteen grandchil-
1ren and nine great grandchildren. The
members OF her own family now living
we're present at the funeral.
Mrs. Benge was a woman well respec-
ed in her own community and else
where IN the sphere of her acquaintance
indeed she was beloved by all. She
lad had many of the hard experiences
VI life, yet she was of the most pleasant
disposition and came through all trials ,
With the smile of one who is victorious :
ver all of life's difficulties. She always !
lad pleasant word of cheer and COM !
ort for the sorrowing in her neighbor- q
ood, was friend in their hour of need. q
nd manv are those she has left behind q
1ho will rise up and call her blessed :
he died without an enemy in this Il
'orld, and with the full assurance that
here is waiting for her home in that
lanslon not made with hands, eternal
! the heavens.