Stephenson County
Biographies

E.A. BENTON

(An excerpt from the History of Stephenson County - Addison L. Fulwider 1910) "On Thursday, May 1, of that year, an election was held to decide whether or not the settlement should be incorporated under the provisions of the general law for incorporating villages, adopted April 10, 1872. S. J. Davis, Peter McHoes and John Gift acted as judges of the election, and the project was carried by a vote of thirty-three to thirty-one. Soon after an election was held, and the first town officers duly installed in their positions. The first village officials, elected in the year of 1873, were: E. A. Benton, president; E. Clark, M. Meinzer, Thomas Cronemiller and M. W. Kurtz, members of the board; M. W. Kurtz, village clerk; village treasurer, no record for 1873.")

Approximately 10 years later, the Bentons removed to the Clarks/Central City Area of Merrick Co Nebraska. Albert Tunks, his step-brother Albert Daniels, the McClintic/Steadman families, Fidelia Weathly Daniels and husband Jason Davis also moved to the area.

Attached is a picture of Grace Benton (on the left) born 27 Sep 1881 in Davis, Stephenson Co IL.
The picture was taken at Frank M. Steadman's studio in Central City Nebraska.
Frank Steadman was the son of Elizabeth Bollinda (Sloan) McClintic Steadman.
Caroline McClintic had married Albert Daniels. Her sister Sarah J. had been in the Illinois home for the insane several times while living in Stephenson County.

Grace Benton was the daughter of Eugene Alson Benton born Jul 1839 in NY and wife Joanne Adelphia Thurston born 11 Jan 1896 in ohio.

Grace married 22 May 1901 in Central City Ira Wilbur Mallory.
Ira was son of Charles Mallory and Hester Seeley, son of Rev Patrick Mallory born 1801 NY who ran a tavern and pony express stop in Elk Twp Delaware County Iowa.

Ira Mallory had left home because he didn't like his step-mother and joined the railroad where he worked as a conductor. Grace and Ira had Donald Mallory 20 Dec 1901 and Hester Mallory 12 Jun 1903. The children were born in Kearney Buffalo Co NE. Grace died there1 Apr 19867. A picture of Grace from my family collection is attached.

By the way, I have a roster of the first class at the College School at Irish Grove. I know of about half the pupils. Besides my extended family and gggrandfather were Thomas Burrill and Charles Burrill. Thomas became a professor at the U of Illinois and taught there for 44 years. He was called "The Father of Plant Plathology." Charles Wesley Burrill became a medical doctor (m. Viance Emery whose family's property was on both sides of the Stephenson/Winnebago County line. Viance was half-sister of Candace Sarah Emery Daniels, mother of Albert Daniels and Fidelia Wealthy and step-mother of Albert Tunks. In the 1920's Charles Burrill was appointed Surgeon General of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Clarrisa Partlow, another of the students in that 1854 class, married Milo Emery, brother of Candace and Viance.

Contributed by Mallory Smith

Back Home