San Francisco County

Biographies


 

 

 

CHARLES H. BENSON

 

   CHARLES H. BENSON, County Auditor and Recorder, San Rafael, is a native of California, dating his birth in Contra Costa county, January 14, 1862.  He was reared to farm life, and received his early education in his native county, completing his schooling in Oakland, Alameda county, in 1879.  He is the eldest of three children born to Henry A. and Lucy E. (Strong) Benson, the former a native of New York and a California pioneer of ’49, and the latter a native of the Buckeye State.

   Our subject was early thrown upon his own resources.  After completing his schooling he first started out as a grocery clerk, then operator and agent on various railroads for many years, mostly in the employ of the Central Pacific system.  Later he became the employee of the North Pacific Railroad Company, as an agent, and following this he traveled for a time through the Northwest, finally bringing up at Cañon City, Oregon.  There he was joined in marriage, July 30, 1883, with Miss Minnie Gass, also a native of California.  Mr. and Mrs. Benson have one child, Henry A.

   Politically Mr. Benson is a staunch Republican, and was elected to the important position he now occupies in 1890.  He is a man of ability and many sterling qualities, and has the confidence of the community in which he resides, and also the respect of a wide circle of friends.  In gaining his present position he has had to confront the fact that he was almost unknown throughout the county; but he received the unanimous vote of the nominating convention, and single-handed he defeated a man who held the office for three successive terms, and was very popular.

   Socially he affiliates with the N. S. G. W., and also is allied with the Sons and Daughters’ Society of Pioneers.

   Henry A. Benson is a member of the Pioneer Society of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, having arrived in California July 14, 1850, was born 1818, is a Republican.  His father, Alanson Benson, an old-time Whig, served in the war of 1812.  His father, Stephen Benson, served with Washington in the Revolutionary war, was in some of their forced marches in dead of winter, without shoes, his feet were badly frozen, his comrades carried him for days on their shoulders, so great was their attachment for him, until relief could be secured.

 

Transcribed by Cathi Skyles.

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, page 310-311, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.


© 2005 Cathi Skyles.

 

 

 

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