Genealogy Trails
Pottawattamie County, Iowa

One of the most noted events of the township is what is known as the Vest murder case, which caused great excitement at the time, the crime having been committed by James Vest in the killing of Edward M. Benton in the beginning of October, 1868.

Benton was a native of Watertown, N. Y., had lived at St. Paul and Des Moines, and was, at the time of his death, in the employment of the Western Stage Company, who had a station at Big Grove. Vest was a farm hand in the employment of one W. M. West.

The scene of the murder was a little log cabin which stood where the rear of the Oakland House now is. The place was kept by three women of not very desirable reputation, and Vest was boarding there. Benton demanded an entrance into the cabin late the night of the killing, and Vest refused to admit him. Benton then broke down the rickety door that barred the way, and made an attempt to get in, when Vest picked up a hatchet and struck Benton twice on the head with the blade, and cut him so severely that he died of his injuries before morning.

No inquest was held, and Vest made his escape, no attempt ever having been made to capture him. The last intelligence ever received of Vest was that he had threatened to kill his brother, Thomas Vest, in Missouri, that the latter disappeared mysteriously and that James Vest was sent to the Missouri Insane Asylum as incurable.

[1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, pages 319-320]
Submitted by Cathy Danielson