Stutson Benson, an Early Settler in Pompey, Onondaga County

From "Re-Union of the Sons and Daughters of the Old Town of Pompey," Pompey, NY, 1875, pg. 207:

DELPHI. . . Moses Blowers and Stutson Benson settled at an early day near Barber's, on lot 84.

ibid, pp. 270-271: BENSON. Peter Benson came to Pompey about the year 1793, being then thirteen years of age; he came to assist his older brother in building a barn, for Samuel Sherwood, on lot number 84; the compensation for building which paid for 100 acres of land on the same lot.

This farm is located about one mile north-west from the village of Delphi, and was afterwards owned by Peter Benson. The father of Mr. Benson, came a few years later; his name was Stutson Benson, was a farmer, and resided in Pompey till his death, which ocurred in 1820. One incident of his life is worthy of note. At the time of his marriage, he was unable to read or write; like Andrew Johnson, he learned his alphabet of his wife; he became a well read man, particularly in the Bible,a nd occasionally engaged in preaching the Gospel; much of his writing is now in possession of A. P. Benson, of Pompey, and is a neat legible hand with correct orthography. Peter was the eighth child and fifth son, in a family of ten children; he was five feet and ten inchdes in height, with broad shoulders and firmly knit frame, and weighed in the prime of manhood, 200 pounds; he had a firm, quick step, and never would allow his children to move at a slow pace, or as he termed it, "as though they were pulling stakes out of the ground;" he was of a jovial turn, was never morose or austere in his family, though his rule with his children, was instant obedience, and they found it the part of wisdom to pay strict attention to this inflexible rule. He was a farmer, and acquired a fair competence in his calling; he died in 1864, at the age of eight-four years; at the time of his death, he was a resident of Fabius.

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3 November 1996

19 December 1996