Individual Details
Guy Ross Benight
(28 Jan 1805 - 24 Sep 1864)
Guy Ross Benight is the son of Joseph A. Benight (1770-bef 27 Jun 1842) and Margaret "Peggy" Rawson (abt 1774-bef 1827). Guy's middle name may have been Rawson instead of Ross.
Guy operated a sawmill in west Waterloo and suffered an accident in connection with the mill and the injuries later caused his death.
From the "History of Black Hawk Co., Iowa, 1904": "This family was one of the earliest to settle in Black Hawk County, when they came to the little hamlet of Waterloo, where now stands rows of stately structures, three insignificant huts represented the settlement. Mr. Benight located on a tract of rich land on the banks of the Cedar River, two miles south of Waterloo, selecting a spot that would be safe in case of an overflow of the stream, an occurrence not unusual at that time. It was a good location for his mill, as he was a millwright and farmer combined. In those early days small game was abundant in this locality, prairie chickens were plentiful, while prairie wolves were frequently seen, and at night often heard unpleasantly near. Mr. Benight owned large interests in the Waterloo mills and became a man of substance as well of local prominence. His eight children were, as follows: Elvira J. (should be Alvira), wife of Henry P. Moore, who is deceased; Julia A., wife of Henry Wood who lives in Adams County, Iowa; Samuel M., who lives in Oregon; Hancy, who married Carlos Case, a railway postal clerk and lives in Des Moines; Margaret L., who is a widow of the late Johnson B. Hewitt; Martha A., who married Henry P. Moore; Ellen, who is the wife of Harvey Smith, of North Dakota; and Charles W., a veteran of the Civil War, who lives in Adams County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Benight were early founders of the Methodist Church in this section, and Mr. Benight the first class leader in Waterloo. He died in 1864, aged 58 years, and was survived by his widow until 1880, when she passed away at the age of 73 years. They were most estimable people, and highly respected."
Spouse: Harriet May Benight (1807 - 1880)*
Children:
Alvira Josaphine Benight Moore (1828 - 1854)*
Julia Ann Benight Wood (1829 - 1910)*
Samuel May Benight (1831 - 1910)*
Hancey May Benight Case (1834 - 1920)*
Margaret L. Benight Hewitt (1837 - 1928)*
Ellen L. Benight Smith (1843 - 1916)*
Charles Wesley Benight (1846 - 1911)*
Guy operated a sawmill in west Waterloo and suffered an accident in connection with the mill and the injuries later caused his death.
From the "History of Black Hawk Co., Iowa, 1904": "This family was one of the earliest to settle in Black Hawk County, when they came to the little hamlet of Waterloo, where now stands rows of stately structures, three insignificant huts represented the settlement. Mr. Benight located on a tract of rich land on the banks of the Cedar River, two miles south of Waterloo, selecting a spot that would be safe in case of an overflow of the stream, an occurrence not unusual at that time. It was a good location for his mill, as he was a millwright and farmer combined. In those early days small game was abundant in this locality, prairie chickens were plentiful, while prairie wolves were frequently seen, and at night often heard unpleasantly near. Mr. Benight owned large interests in the Waterloo mills and became a man of substance as well of local prominence. His eight children were, as follows: Elvira J. (should be Alvira), wife of Henry P. Moore, who is deceased; Julia A., wife of Henry Wood who lives in Adams County, Iowa; Samuel M., who lives in Oregon; Hancy, who married Carlos Case, a railway postal clerk and lives in Des Moines; Margaret L., who is a widow of the late Johnson B. Hewitt; Martha A., who married Henry P. Moore; Ellen, who is the wife of Harvey Smith, of North Dakota; and Charles W., a veteran of the Civil War, who lives in Adams County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Benight were early founders of the Methodist Church in this section, and Mr. Benight the first class leader in Waterloo. He died in 1864, aged 58 years, and was survived by his widow until 1880, when she passed away at the age of 73 years. They were most estimable people, and highly respected."
Spouse: Harriet May Benight (1807 - 1880)*
Children:
Alvira Josaphine Benight Moore (1828 - 1854)*
Julia Ann Benight Wood (1829 - 1910)*
Samuel May Benight (1831 - 1910)*
Hancey May Benight Case (1834 - 1920)*
Margaret L. Benight Hewitt (1837 - 1928)*
Ellen L. Benight Smith (1843 - 1916)*
Charles Wesley Benight (1846 - 1911)*
Events
| Birth | 28 Jan 1805 | Oswego County, New York | |||
| Marriage | 3 Mar 1827 | Vigo County, Indiana - Harriet May Smith | |||
| Death | 24 Sep 1864 | Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa | |||
| Burial | Waterloo Cemetery, Black Hawk County, Iowa |  |
Families
| Spouse | Harriet May Smith (1807 - 1880) |
| Child | Hancey May Benight (1834 - 1920) |
Endnotes
1. Find A Grave Memorial# 55018566.