Smyrna times., 1923-11-28
TRIBUTE TO NATIVE sMYRNIAN
Few Men in the Southeastern Part of
Missouri Were Better Loved and
Esteemed Than B. B. CahOOn

prominent lawyer of FredericktOwn,
Mo-, whose death was announced in
the Smyrna Times last week and who
was a native of Smyrna and related
to the CahoOn, Hoffecker, Benson,
Hardesty families, prominent in Del
aware, is highly spoken of by St.
Louis and State and County papers of
Missouri. His winning personality
and strong desire to serve and bene-
fit other were outstanding character
istics in his life. He helped many
young men to a successful life and
strong friendships formed made him
one of the most beloved men in South
East Missouri. The Fredericktown
News-DemOcrat says:
Benjamin Benson Cahoon was born
July 7, 1916, at Smyrna, Kent Coun-
ty, Delaware. His father was a Meth
odist minister of deep piety and much
ability. Friends have heard Mr. Ca
hOon say that he would rather pos
sess the character of his father than
to be president of the United States.
"His early education was somewhat
limited, advantages then being few.
However by July, 1865, he had i'm
proved himself to the point where he
could begin the study of law for that
purpose going into the Office of Hon.
n. B. Smithers, an eminent attorney
of Dover, Delaware. He remained at
study until May 27, 1868, when he
was admitted to the bar at Washing
ton, D. c., passing a most creditable
examination.
"His education was interrupted, how
ever, by the outbreak of the Civil
War. AS a lad in his teens he identi-
fed himself with the First Regiment
of Delaware Volunteer Infantry. He
was in the famous Army of the Po-
tomac, following Generals Mcclellan,
Meade, Hooker, Burnside and Grant.
He was wounded twice, once at An
tietam and again at Gettysburg.
"After the completion of his educa-
tion in law, he decided to come to
the great west where the oppOrtuni-
ties looked much more promising than
in the east. Accordingly within a
few weeks he found himself at JEFF
fersOn City and looking for an open
ing for the practice of his profession.
Somebody then told him that at Fred
eMcktOwn was a good opening. He
reached this town in an OK wagon on
the 5th day of August, 1868. He has
frequently told friends that his mon
ey was barely sufficient to pay his
board for a week, but he managed to
get along, his practice grew and his
influence spread until within a very
few months he was ranked as among
the outstanding lawyers of this sec
ton.
"In February, 1869, he was married
to Miss Belle lie Compile, a member
of one of the oldest French families
Of Ste. Genevieve. She has been deaC
a great many years, but Mr.. Cahoor
has always made a shrine of hel
memory and attributes to her life anC
influence all the success he attained
and whatever of good there was il
his character.
"The first year after his arrival herr
he was named county attorney. Tn,
next year he became circuit attorney
travelling the judicial circuit as tn
Judge does now. His work was wit
the late Judge Carter, who Mr.. Ca
hoon always regarded as one of tn
country's great lawyers. The circui
= attorneyship was held two years an
the prestige It gave him contribute
to a wonderfully profitable practiC
t throughout southeast Missouri.
GAS Republican Mr.. CahOOn earl
began to WELD powerful inhuenC
v in his party. In 1870 he was one {
n the leaders of the liberal mOvemel
Il to enfranchise the Confederates WI
Il had been deprived of citizenship in
e mediately following the war. He W;
It often mentioned for high political 0
/ flee, but did not become a candida
e until 1896 when he asked for Il
e nomination for Governor.
y "The campaign was warm one al
MIR. CahOOn was recognized as
formidable candidate. In the conve
ton, however, he was defeated by
man named Lewis, who was defeat
d; in the general election by the Dem
cratic candidate, Lon V. Stevens.
ed "Under Governor Hadley, Mr.. c
n hoon was named as one of the ma
-el ayers of the Pennington Hospital,
e, work he took much interest in.
rt "As the years passed Mr.. CahO
n grew gradually deaf from effects
h wartime injuries and gradually
ay linquished the practice of general Ia
He has always maintained his off
re however, and done a great deal of c
"a lecting and such other work as v
)s- not rendered too difficult by his de
lal ness.
ca "Mr. Cahoon, during his long i
in collected a large amount of proper
nd He probably owns twenty pieces
md town real estate. 1t is estimated t
les. he owns an interest in 10000 acres