Benjamin, Utah - Utah County: a Graphic Account of Its Foundings, Its Wonderful Growth

Utah County: a Graphic Account of Its Foundings, Its Wonderful Growth

Lying to the west of the Rio Grande Western and Oregon Short Line Kailroads, between Spanish Fork and Payson is the town of Benjamin, typical in most respects of other towns of its size in Utah county. It was founded in 1868 by settlers from Payson, and prominent among those who saw it in its infancy are Mrs Elizabeth Stewart and Richards Yates. There is a large store, which carries a well assorted stock of merchandise, and a new creamery recently completed, is of great convenience to the dairymen. Agricultural labors and stock raising provide a means of living to most of its inhabitants, who number about 600 souls.

Daved Hone

There is possibly no county in the whole of England which is so interesting and possesses as many points of historic interest as Oxfordshire, and it was in this county, in the town of Boricut, that David Hone was born, July 3, 1837. His parents were far from being wealthy, Mr. Hone being a weaver, and were not able to give their son David many educational advantages, but he being a boy possessing great aspirations, he resolved to obtain by his own exertions that which his parents were unable to give him. The little pocket money he obtained was laid aside, penny by penny, until he had saved enough to pay for his tuition at night-school, and after his daily labors were ended, it was his delight to devote his evenings in mentally improving himself.

followed the occupation peculiar to that region viz, weaving and dyeing, ami in later yeara engaged in farming. In December, lK.r>7, when twenty years of age, he joined the Mormon Church, and live years later emigrated to Utah. He left England April 1'. I, 1862, OH the John I Boyd, crossing the Atlantic ami reaching New York in forty-four days. From tic- eastern me tropolis he paid his fare to Florence, where he worked for a short time and earned a few dollars to purchase some little trilles for the journey to the west . He left Florence July 'J, INI'.', accompanied by his wife Sarah, whom he married at Coventry September '23, i860, and traveled over the old emigrant trail on the north side of the Platte River, the company being under the command of Captain Omer Duncan.

Upon one occasion, while camping for lunch, his wife and child were lying under the wagon to rest and escape the intense heat, when the train suddenly took fright, and but for Mr. Hone's foresight and prompt action those dearest to him would undoubtedly have been injured seriously, if not fatally. In his endeavor to rescue his family his arm was badly lacerated from the shoulder to the elbow.

He reached Utah September 23, 1862, and made his home in Provo, entering iuto farm life for several years, and also working for the Spanish Fork South Field Irrigation Company.

During the Indian troubles, although being unable to take an active part in them himself, he sacrificed everything he possessed to assist those who participated in the struggle, and devoted his time in attending to the crops of the absent ones. In 1876 he removed to Benjamin, his present residence, and opened a general merchandise store, which he still conducts.

In addition to the store he has had the honor of being the postmaster for nearly five years, and still performs the duties pertaining to that

For over twenty years he has lived in Benjamin, and among its citizens there is perhaps no one who is more liked and respected, or who enjoys the confidence of the community than Mr. David Hone.