Benjamin established a wagon shop, in which he built carriages and sleighs and all styles of wheeled vehicles, from 1836 to 1880. Although he made it successful, the beginning was slow and hard. Mr. Benson was obliged to work as a last-maker a part of each year to get cash enough to buy the iron for his wagon building. This kind of combat took an iron will and whalebone muscles. Let us see where he got these qualities—which money cannot buy, but which can buy money, or make it. His grandfather, Ichabod Benson, came from Massachusetts to Livermore, Me., where he was a farmer and died there in 1833. Stephen Benson, his father, was a farmer and a worker in iron, a blacksmith, a nail maker and a plow maker. His mother was Rebecca Cummings.
Benjamin Chandler Benson was born in Poland, Me., February 17, 1809. He was named by his uncle. Dr. Benjamin Chandler, whose wife was his father's sister; and was adopted by them when he was 9mos. old, and taken to their home on Paris hill. The doctor was a very prominent man in all that section of country. His medical reputation was high and his practice was very large. He was a leader in public affairs, being for one or more terms a member of the legislature. But his labors were exhausting, and he died before he was 50yrs. old. Benjamin C. lived with his foster parents till he was 16yrs. old, becoming greatly attached to them. In the meantime his father had moved to Buckfield, where he bought a farm, on which he was living when Benjamin C. left Doctor Chandler's and came to help his father.
His father, besides the farm, had a wagon and blacksmith shop, in which Benjamin C. worked enough to become familiar with the manufacture of wagons. Six months before he was of age he bought his time from his father, giving his note for $60, and launched forth into the world for himself. The making of last blocks for the Boston market was, in those times, one of the few things that brought ready money. To this branch of trade, Benjamin C. and his brother, Sewall, bent their energies first at Gardiner in the early part of 1833, from whence they removed the same year to West Waterville. The next year Sewall managed the last block factory, and Benjamin C. worked for him till he went into the wagon business for himself.
In 1837 he took the most important step of his life—he made Lucy D. Hitchings, of Waterville, his wife. They had five daughters, all did marry. Benjamin lost his wife in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Pinkham (his daughter and her husband) live with him at the old homestead, which dates back to near the beginning of the century, when John Coombs kept it as a hotel.
Mr. Benson was one of the organizers and has always been a trustee of the Cascade Savings Bank. He was also one of the incorporators and has always been a director in the Messalonskee National Bank. The Baptist church, of which he is a member, has enjoyed his close care and generous support, and for many years his service as its financial clerk. He was elected in 1860, and served one term in the state legislature.
[source: "Illustrated history of Kennebec Co., ME", Kingsbury & Deyo, 1892, pages 1078-1080]
Benjamin Chandler Benson was born in Poland, Me., February 17, 1809. He was named by his uncle. Dr. Benjamin Chandler, whose wife was his father's sister; and was adopted by them when he was 9mos. old, and taken to their home on Paris hill. The doctor was a very prominent man in all that section of country. His medical reputation was high and his practice was very large. He was a leader in public affairs, being for one or more terms a member of the legislature. But his labors were exhausting, and he died before he was 50yrs. old. Benjamin C. lived with his foster parents till he was 16yrs. old, becoming greatly attached to them. In the meantime his father had moved to Buckfield, where he bought a farm, on which he was living when Benjamin C. left Doctor Chandler's and came to help his father.
His father, besides the farm, had a wagon and blacksmith shop, in which Benjamin C. worked enough to become familiar with the manufacture of wagons. Six months before he was of age he bought his time from his father, giving his note for $60, and launched forth into the world for himself. The making of last blocks for the Boston market was, in those times, one of the few things that brought ready money. To this branch of trade, Benjamin C. and his brother, Sewall, bent their energies first at Gardiner in the early part of 1833, from whence they removed the same year to West Waterville. The next year Sewall managed the last block factory, and Benjamin C. worked for him till he went into the wagon business for himself.
In 1837 he took the most important step of his life—he made Lucy D. Hitchings, of Waterville, his wife. They had five daughters, all did marry. Benjamin lost his wife in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Pinkham (his daughter and her husband) live with him at the old homestead, which dates back to near the beginning of the century, when John Coombs kept it as a hotel.
Mr. Benson was one of the organizers and has always been a trustee of the Cascade Savings Bank. He was also one of the incorporators and has always been a director in the Messalonskee National Bank. The Baptist church, of which he is a member, has enjoyed his close care and generous support, and for many years his service as its financial clerk. He was elected in 1860, and served one term in the state legislature.
[source: "Illustrated history of Kennebec Co., ME", Kingsbury & Deyo, 1892, pages 1078-1080]
Benjamin established a wagon shop, in which he built carriages and sleighs and all styles of wheeled vehicles, from 1836 to 1880. Although he made it successful, the beginning was slow and hard. Mr. Benson was obliged to work as a last-maker a part of each year to get cash enough to buy the iron for his wagon building. This kind of combat took an iron will and whalebone muscles. Let us see where he got these qualities—which money cannot buy, but which can buy money, or make it. His grandfather, Ichabod Benson, came from Massachusetts to Livermore, Me., where he was a farmer and died there in 1833. Stephen Benson, his father, was a farmer and a worker in iron, a blacksmith, a nail maker and a plow maker. His mother was Rebecca Cummings.
Benjamin Chandler Benson was born in Poland, Me., February 17, 1809. He was named by his uncle. Dr. Benjamin Chandler, whose wife was his father's sister; and was adopted by them when he was 9mos. old, and taken to their home on Paris hill. The doctor was a very prominent man in all that section of country. His medical reputation was high and his practice was very large. He was a leader in public affairs, being for one or more terms a member of the legislature. But his labors were exhausting, and he died before he was 50yrs. old. Benjamin C. lived with his foster parents till he was 16yrs. old, becoming greatly attached to them. In the meantime his father had moved to Buckfield, where he bought a farm, on which he was living when Benjamin C. left Doctor Chandler's and came to help his father.
His father, besides the farm, had a wagon and blacksmith shop, in which Benjamin C. worked enough to become familiar with the manufacture of wagons. Six months before he was of age he bought his time from his father, giving his note for $60, and launched forth into the world for himself. The making of last blocks for the Boston market was, in those times, one of the few things that brought ready money. To this branch of trade, Benjamin C. and his brother, Sewall, bent their energies first at Gardiner in the early part of 1833, from whence they removed the same year to West Waterville. The next year Sewall managed the last block factory, and Benjamin C. worked for him till he went into the wagon business for himself.
In 1837 he took the most important step of his life—he made Lucy D. Hitchings, of Waterville, his wife. They had five daughters, all did marry. Benjamin lost his wife in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Pinkham (his daughter and her husband) live with him at the old homestead, which dates back to near the beginning of the century, when John Coombs kept it as a hotel.
Mr. Benson was one of the organizers and has always been a trustee of the Cascade Savings Bank. He was also one of the incorporators and has always been a director in the Messalonskee National Bank. The Baptist church, of which he is a member, has enjoyed his close care and generous support, and for many years his service as its financial clerk. He was elected in 1860, and served one term in the state legislature.
[source: "Illustrated history of Kennebec Co., ME", Kingsbury & Deyo, 1892, pages 1078-1080]
Benjamin Chandler Benson was born in Poland, Me., February 17, 1809. He was named by his uncle. Dr. Benjamin Chandler, whose wife was his father's sister; and was adopted by them when he was 9mos. old, and taken to their home on Paris hill. The doctor was a very prominent man in all that section of country. His medical reputation was high and his practice was very large. He was a leader in public affairs, being for one or more terms a member of the legislature. But his labors were exhausting, and he died before he was 50yrs. old. Benjamin C. lived with his foster parents till he was 16yrs. old, becoming greatly attached to them. In the meantime his father had moved to Buckfield, where he bought a farm, on which he was living when Benjamin C. left Doctor Chandler's and came to help his father.
His father, besides the farm, had a wagon and blacksmith shop, in which Benjamin C. worked enough to become familiar with the manufacture of wagons. Six months before he was of age he bought his time from his father, giving his note for $60, and launched forth into the world for himself. The making of last blocks for the Boston market was, in those times, one of the few things that brought ready money. To this branch of trade, Benjamin C. and his brother, Sewall, bent their energies first at Gardiner in the early part of 1833, from whence they removed the same year to West Waterville. The next year Sewall managed the last block factory, and Benjamin C. worked for him till he went into the wagon business for himself.
In 1837 he took the most important step of his life—he made Lucy D. Hitchings, of Waterville, his wife. They had five daughters, all did marry. Benjamin lost his wife in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Pinkham (his daughter and her husband) live with him at the old homestead, which dates back to near the beginning of the century, when John Coombs kept it as a hotel.
Mr. Benson was one of the organizers and has always been a trustee of the Cascade Savings Bank. He was also one of the incorporators and has always been a director in the Messalonskee National Bank. The Baptist church, of which he is a member, has enjoyed his close care and generous support, and for many years his service as its financial clerk. He was elected in 1860, and served one term in the state legislature.
[source: "Illustrated history of Kennebec Co., ME", Kingsbury & Deyo, 1892, pages 1078-1080]
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