Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-12
JOHN H. Benton, LONG
U. S. EMPL0YE, DEAD
Eighty-Five Years Old and Fifty
Three Years in the Govern.
ment Service.

John H Benton. eighty-tve years Of
age, longtime resident Of the District
and prominent church official and for
fifty-three years an employe in the
government service, died at his
residence, 1872 o street northwest, last
night at IL o'clock, after an illness Of
about ten days
A remarkably we'll preserved man.
Mr.. Benton had been in the best of
health up until a short time ago, when
confined him to his bed. Because OF
his advanced age and consequent low
vitality he became steadily weaker, and
a sudden turn for the worse last even
ing terminated in his death.
A Native Of Indiana.
Mr.. Benton was born at Brownstown,
Ind. June 10. 1929, and resided in that
state. with the exception of several
brief intervals, until March, 1851, when
he came to the National Capital to
accept a position in the census bureau.
While in Indiana he was employed sue
cessively as bookkeeper. merchant. civil
the state senate. He received his educa-
ton at Asbury (now Depauw) University,
located at Greencastle. Ind.
In April, 1863 he was transferred from
where he was employed up to the time Of
his death. having been clerk on the
board of review since its organization in
1891. April 8. 1873, the members of the
years Of honorable service in the bureau
by presenting him with silver loving
cup.
April 10. 1861, Mr. BENTON enlisted in
Gen. Jim" Lanes Frontier Guard. which
bivouacked that memorable night in the
east room Of the White House, being re-
viewed at midnight by President Lincoln
and Secretary Of War Cameron. In 1852
he returned to Indiana to enlist, but ar
rived to find that the regiment for his
district-the sixty-seventh-had already
left for the field of action.
At Second Bull Run Battle.
He served on the battlefield Of Second
Bull Run in the capacity Of volunteer
nurse. stretcher-bearer and field hospital
assistant. When Gen. Early threatened
to move on the capital In 1884. Mr.. Ben
ton joined the Pension Office Guards, but
the company soon was disbanded without
seeing actual service.
He Joined McKendree Methodist Epis-
copal Church in 1854, and in 1867 trans
ferred his membership to Hamline
Church. where he was appointed success
sively to the Offices of steward. trustee,
class leader and exhorter, holding at the
time of his death all Of these positions
except that of trustee. He was widely
known throughout Methodist Church
circles.
He was married in 1851 to Mary Ray Of
Princeton. Ind, who died in 1889. In Octo-
Der, $780, he was married to Maria
Louisa Webster of this city. who died In
March. 1910. Mr.. Benton is survived by
a brother, Charles W. Benton of Browns
town, Ind; two sisters. Mrs. Evaline
Reynolds and Mrs. Catherine Tinsley.
both of Indianapolis. Ind, and four chill
dren, Thomas r. Benton of St Paul,
Mimi. and John E. Benton, Mrs. Charles
c. Clifford and Ralph W. Benton, all of
this city
Funeral services will be held at HAM
line Church at o'clock Monday after
noon. Members of Washington Centen-
NAL Lodge. No. IA. F. A. A. NJ. Of which
Mr.. Benton had long been member, will
be in attendance. Interment will be In
Glenwood cemetery.