Benton Township lies east of Browning and south of Ewing, taking its name from the 
     county-seat that it within its limits. The township wasnot settled as rapidly as the surrounding
     townships. A. D. Dollins. entered land in Benton Township in 1828, but William King was the first 
     settler. Wm. Drummond, John R. Williams, Abraham Ray, W. A. Swofford, and Braxton Parrish 
     came into the township at a very early date.
	 
          Braxton Parrish was a pioneer Methodist preacher who came from North Carolins to Tennessee
     and thence to Illinois, settling in the eastern part of the township.
	 
          The Mooneyhams, Whittingtons, Espys, Browning, Smiths, Baxters, Vances, Halls, Lampleys, 
     Stilleys, Moores, Todds, Sweets, Jones, Swoffords and Smothers are prominent families in the
     development of the township.
	 
          Benton Township has five large coal mines within its limits and two cities, Benton and 
     Logan.
	 
          The city of Benton - the county-seat - has three important railroads, the Illinois Central
     R.R. and the Iron Mountain.
	 
          Logan five miles east of the city of Benton, is a city of 1,500 people. They have an 
     up-to-date coal mine owned by the John A. Logan Coal Co. The city has a excellent school building
     and the town is growing very rapidly.
	 
          The schools of Benton Township are Gresham, Mt. Zion, Rolloson, McGuyre, Benton, Middle
     Fork, Franklin, Logan, Crown Point, Dixon, Poor Farm and Clem. The churches are: Baptist - Benton,
     New Hope, Mt. Zion, Logan; Methodist - Logan and Benton; Christian - Benton.
	 
          Politically Benton Township Democratic but Republican often elect part of the ticket. The
    present supervisor is Frank Easley.

		  

[(1918) Franklin County History Centennial Edition by H.M. AIKEN]