Bro Benton was aCivil War veteran; 1st Lieutenant, Co. D, 4th Vermont Infantry and a Brother of Lt Col. Reuben Clark Benton (#33075034), who is also buried in Lakewood.
January 9, 1883
The Most Worshipful Grand Master C. Henry Benton, assisted by officers, opened a lodge of Master Masons, preparatory to the opening of the Minnesota Grand Lodge:
M, W.'. C. Henry Benrox. ....Grand Master.
MN GL report of 1893
The grand masters address of sixteen pages makes no pretensions towards oratorical display, he does not even tell us that another year is gone, an item of news that no other Grand Master has omitted to the best of our recollection, but the address is a good, strong sound business document, a cordial and most fraternal greeting to the master builders and the workmen from the quarries, tempered with sadness forthe vacant seats of past grand masters J. H. Brown, C. H. Benton, and A. T. C. Pierson, Bro. G. W. Lamson, past grand orator, and Frederick Joss, past junior grand warden.
Yet mourning not the loved and lost without hope, for
"Masonry" has always taught the doctrines of the resurrection and the immortality of the soul.
Digested From Proceedings of 1903
CALEB HENRY BENTON. MN Eleventh Grand Master: 1882-1883.
Farmer's son, student, soldier, and lawyer are words which express the vocations of a life of less than fifty years, every one of which was crowded with earnest endeavor and faithful discharge of duty. On February 26, 1841, in Lunenberg, Essex County, Vermont, Caleb Henry Benton was born and in the city of Minneapolis, just after high twelve,10 November 1890, without a moment's warning, the lamp of life was forever extinguished. His early years were said to be 'uneventful'. At the age of twenty he had received such training as the country schools and academies of Vermont could offer him as he had then completed his first year in college. His education was continued in the camp and field, for on August 21, 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company D, Fifth Regiment of Vermont Infantry, and served until the completion of his term of enlistment in Aug 1864. He was made Sergeant Major 31 Dec 1861, promoted to Second Lt. 9 July 1862, as a reward for distinguished valor at Savage Station. 24 Jan 1863 he was again promoted to the First Lieutenancy of his Company and early in Feb, 1863, he was detailed as Adjutant of his Regiment and held the position until he was mustered out of service.
He was engaged in many of the greatest battles of the Civil War, among some of the most important of which may be mentioned Lee's Mills, Williamsburg, The 7 Days' Fight, Golding's Farm, White Oak Swamp, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, 1st & 2nd Fredericksburg, including Mary's Heights, Salem Heights, Banks Ford, Chancellorsville.Funkstown and Williamsport. He was at Rappahannock Station during the winter of 1863-4, south of the Rapidan, in the Wilderness of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, and fought his last fight in that war at historic Charlestown, Virginia. His army record shows that he was not absent from his Regiment a single day during his entire term of service, and that his hospital record was entirely blank. No wonder, then, that he was proud of his record as a soldier!
After the war he returned to Vermont, entered the Albany Law School, graduated in 1866, settled to the practice of his profession at South Troy, Vermont, and married miss Flora Hadley, who, with two children, died previous to his removal to Minneapolis in 1871. In Minnesota he rapidly acquired a high rank in the practice of law and was regarded as one of the leading lawyers of the State. It was said that he was a fair opponent, but a hard fighter, and, above all things, he abhorred trickery and deceit. In 1875 he was again married to Miss Jeanette Graham, who died in 1885, leaving him three children.
His Masonic career began in Vermont after his discharge from the Army. He was initiated and passed 11 January and raised 11 Feb1865, in Mount Vernon Lodge, No.8, and was demitted February 5, 1868. On his arrival in Minnesota he affiliated with Hennepin Lodge, No. 4 on 13 Nov 1872. He was elected Junior Warden of that Lodge in 1874, Senior Warden in 1875, and Worshipful Master in 1876, 1877 and 1878. He entered the Grand Lodge in 1875. where his abilities were quickly recognized and he was appointed to positions on various committees to the lasting advantage of the Grand Lodge. He was then appointed Grand Sword Bearer. He was elected Senior Grand Warden in 1878, Deputy Grand Master in 1879 and 188o, and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1882 and 1883. He was a member of the Committee on Appeals and Grievances in 1876 and 1877, Chairman of the Committee on Obituaries in 1878, a member of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence in 1879, and of the Grand Lodge Funds in 1880.
He was a member of the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence and Residue of Address in 1882 and was chairman of the Committees on Masonic Jurisprudence for 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1890. In 1887 he was also a member of the Committees on Legislation, on A.'. & A.'. S.'. Rite, on Decisions of the Grand Master and Perpetual Jurisdiction. In 1890 he was also chairman of the Committee on Cerneauism. He took the Capitulate Degrees in St. Anthony Falls Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3, in 1879; the M.'. M.'. and P.'. M.'. Degrees on February 8th, and the M.'. E.'. M.'. and Royal Arch Degrees on 8 Feb 1879. On 14 June 1879, he was elected P.'. S.'., and on 14 June 1889 was elected High Priest and was re-elected 11 June 1881.
The Cryptic Degrees he took in Adoniram Council, No. 5; also in 1879, receiving all the degrees on April 14th. On 8 Dec 1879, he was elected P"' C"' of W.'. and Thrice illustrious Master 13 Dec 1880. He was Knighted in Darius Commandery, No. 7, K.'. T.'., in 1879, receiving the degree of Red Cross on May 9th and Knight Templar May 16th. 'He was elected Captain General 1 March 188o; Generalissimo 4 April 1881 Eminent Commander, 3 April 1882, and was re-elected Eminent Commander 5 March 1883.
Our distinguished Brother was also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America. All the degrees from the Fourth to the 32nd were conferred upon him by Venerable Brother Albert Pike on 24 September 1879.
He was made Inspector General Honorary (Thirty-third degree) 6 Sept 1883. He affiliated with the Scottish Rite in Minneapolis 9 January 1880; was elected J.'. W.'. in Lodge of Perfection January 15, 1880 and retained that office until 1886. He was elected First Sub-Preceptor (Thirtieth degree) 28 Jan 1880 and remained in that position until 1886. He was also elected M... of K.'. 27 Apr 1880 and was such officer until Jan. 1884. 10 Dec 1887 he was elected and initiated a member of the Royal Order of Scotland.
Four days after his death,14 Nov 1890, the Grand Lodge surrrounded his grave in Lakewood and consigned his body to to Mother Earth with the usual solemnities.
-/———-
Hide article text (OCR)
Death of C. Henry Benton. Henry Benton, who died in Minn., Nov. 10, was a native Lunenburg, where he was born in parents afterwards moved to and the father went West, where at Rockford, III. In 18(50 Mr. entered the University of in 1861 enlisted in the Fifth being promoted to first and mustered out Sep. 19, after he entered the Albany from which he graduated in commenced practicing in Troy, He married Aliss Flora died in 1809. Two years later went to Minneapolis, where married to Jeannette Graham city, who bore him two and Harry. Mr. wife died about seven years Benton was one of the most members of the Alasonic craft Minneapolis. He was connected order for years, and at one time the office of grand master in Minnesota.
January 9, 1883
The Most Worshipful Grand Master C. Henry Benton, assisted by officers, opened a lodge of Master Masons, preparatory to the opening of the Minnesota Grand Lodge:
M, W.'. C. Henry Benrox. ....Grand Master.
MN GL report of 1893
The grand masters address of sixteen pages makes no pretensions towards oratorical display, he does not even tell us that another year is gone, an item of news that no other Grand Master has omitted to the best of our recollection, but the address is a good, strong sound business document, a cordial and most fraternal greeting to the master builders and the workmen from the quarries, tempered with sadness forthe vacant seats of past grand masters J. H. Brown, C. H. Benton, and A. T. C. Pierson, Bro. G. W. Lamson, past grand orator, and Frederick Joss, past junior grand warden.
Yet mourning not the loved and lost without hope, for
"Masonry" has always taught the doctrines of the resurrection and the immortality of the soul.
Digested From Proceedings of 1903
CALEB HENRY BENTON. MN Eleventh Grand Master: 1882-1883.
Farmer's son, student, soldier, and lawyer are words which express the vocations of a life of less than fifty years, every one of which was crowded with earnest endeavor and faithful discharge of duty. On February 26, 1841, in Lunenberg, Essex County, Vermont, Caleb Henry Benton was born and in the city of Minneapolis, just after high twelve,10 November 1890, without a moment's warning, the lamp of life was forever extinguished. His early years were said to be 'uneventful'. At the age of twenty he had received such training as the country schools and academies of Vermont could offer him as he had then completed his first year in college. His education was continued in the camp and field, for on August 21, 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company D, Fifth Regiment of Vermont Infantry, and served until the completion of his term of enlistment in Aug 1864. He was made Sergeant Major 31 Dec 1861, promoted to Second Lt. 9 July 1862, as a reward for distinguished valor at Savage Station. 24 Jan 1863 he was again promoted to the First Lieutenancy of his Company and early in Feb, 1863, he was detailed as Adjutant of his Regiment and held the position until he was mustered out of service.
He was engaged in many of the greatest battles of the Civil War, among some of the most important of which may be mentioned Lee's Mills, Williamsburg, The 7 Days' Fight, Golding's Farm, White Oak Swamp, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, 1st & 2nd Fredericksburg, including Mary's Heights, Salem Heights, Banks Ford, Chancellorsville.Funkstown and Williamsport. He was at Rappahannock Station during the winter of 1863-4, south of the Rapidan, in the Wilderness of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, and fought his last fight in that war at historic Charlestown, Virginia. His army record shows that he was not absent from his Regiment a single day during his entire term of service, and that his hospital record was entirely blank. No wonder, then, that he was proud of his record as a soldier!
After the war he returned to Vermont, entered the Albany Law School, graduated in 1866, settled to the practice of his profession at South Troy, Vermont, and married miss Flora Hadley, who, with two children, died previous to his removal to Minneapolis in 1871. In Minnesota he rapidly acquired a high rank in the practice of law and was regarded as one of the leading lawyers of the State. It was said that he was a fair opponent, but a hard fighter, and, above all things, he abhorred trickery and deceit. In 1875 he was again married to Miss Jeanette Graham, who died in 1885, leaving him three children.
His Masonic career began in Vermont after his discharge from the Army. He was initiated and passed 11 January and raised 11 Feb1865, in Mount Vernon Lodge, No.8, and was demitted February 5, 1868. On his arrival in Minnesota he affiliated with Hennepin Lodge, No. 4 on 13 Nov 1872. He was elected Junior Warden of that Lodge in 1874, Senior Warden in 1875, and Worshipful Master in 1876, 1877 and 1878. He entered the Grand Lodge in 1875. where his abilities were quickly recognized and he was appointed to positions on various committees to the lasting advantage of the Grand Lodge. He was then appointed Grand Sword Bearer. He was elected Senior Grand Warden in 1878, Deputy Grand Master in 1879 and 188o, and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1882 and 1883. He was a member of the Committee on Appeals and Grievances in 1876 and 1877, Chairman of the Committee on Obituaries in 1878, a member of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence in 1879, and of the Grand Lodge Funds in 1880.
He was a member of the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence and Residue of Address in 1882 and was chairman of the Committees on Masonic Jurisprudence for 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1890. In 1887 he was also a member of the Committees on Legislation, on A.'. & A.'. S.'. Rite, on Decisions of the Grand Master and Perpetual Jurisdiction. In 1890 he was also chairman of the Committee on Cerneauism. He took the Capitulate Degrees in St. Anthony Falls Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3, in 1879; the M.'. M.'. and P.'. M.'. Degrees on February 8th, and the M.'. E.'. M.'. and Royal Arch Degrees on 8 Feb 1879. On 14 June 1879, he was elected P.'. S.'., and on 14 June 1889 was elected High Priest and was re-elected 11 June 1881.
The Cryptic Degrees he took in Adoniram Council, No. 5; also in 1879, receiving all the degrees on April 14th. On 8 Dec 1879, he was elected P"' C"' of W.'. and Thrice illustrious Master 13 Dec 1880. He was Knighted in Darius Commandery, No. 7, K.'. T.'., in 1879, receiving the degree of Red Cross on May 9th and Knight Templar May 16th. 'He was elected Captain General 1 March 188o; Generalissimo 4 April 1881 Eminent Commander, 3 April 1882, and was re-elected Eminent Commander 5 March 1883.
Our distinguished Brother was also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America. All the degrees from the Fourth to the 32nd were conferred upon him by Venerable Brother Albert Pike on 24 September 1879.
He was made Inspector General Honorary (Thirty-third degree) 6 Sept 1883. He affiliated with the Scottish Rite in Minneapolis 9 January 1880; was elected J.'. W.'. in Lodge of Perfection January 15, 1880 and retained that office until 1886. He was elected First Sub-Preceptor (Thirtieth degree) 28 Jan 1880 and remained in that position until 1886. He was also elected M... of K.'. 27 Apr 1880 and was such officer until Jan. 1884. 10 Dec 1887 he was elected and initiated a member of the Royal Order of Scotland.
Four days after his death,14 Nov 1890, the Grand Lodge surrrounded his grave in Lakewood and consigned his body to to Mother Earth with the usual solemnities.
-/———-
Hide article text (OCR)
Death of C. Henry Benton. Henry Benton, who died in Minn., Nov. 10, was a native Lunenburg, where he was born in parents afterwards moved to and the father went West, where at Rockford, III. In 18(50 Mr. entered the University of in 1861 enlisted in the Fifth being promoted to first and mustered out Sep. 19, after he entered the Albany from which he graduated in commenced practicing in Troy, He married Aliss Flora died in 1809. Two years later went to Minneapolis, where married to Jeannette Graham city, who bore him two and Harry. Mr. wife died about seven years Benton was one of the most members of the Alasonic craft Minneapolis. He was connected order for years, and at one time the office of grand master in Minnesota.
Bro Benton was aCivil War veteran; 1st Lieutenant, Co. D, 4th Vermont Infantry and a Brother of Lt Col. Reuben Clark Benton (#33075034), who is also buried in Lakewood.
January 9, 1883
The Most Worshipful Grand Master C. Henry Benton, assisted by officers, opened a lodge of Master Masons, preparatory to the opening of the Minnesota Grand Lodge:
M, W.'. C. Henry Benrox. ....Grand Master.
MN GL report of 1893
The grand masters address of sixteen pages makes no pretensions towards oratorical display, he does not even tell us that another year is gone, an item of news that no other Grand Master has omitted to the best of our recollection, but the address is a good, strong sound business document, a cordial and most fraternal greeting to the master builders and the workmen from the quarries, tempered with sadness forthe vacant seats of past grand masters J. H. Brown, C. H. Benton, and A. T. C. Pierson, Bro. G. W. Lamson, past grand orator, and Frederick Joss, past junior grand warden.
Yet mourning not the loved and lost without hope, for
"Masonry" has always taught the doctrines of the resurrection and the immortality of the soul.
Digested From Proceedings of 1903
CALEB HENRY BENTON. MN Eleventh Grand Master: 1882-1883.
Farmer's son, student, soldier, and lawyer are words which express the vocations of a life of less than fifty years, every one of which was crowded with earnest endeavor and faithful discharge of duty. On February 26, 1841, in Lunenberg, Essex County, Vermont, Caleb Henry Benton was born and in the city of Minneapolis, just after high twelve,10 November 1890, without a moment's warning, the lamp of life was forever extinguished. His early years were said to be 'uneventful'. At the age of twenty he had received such training as the country schools and academies of Vermont could offer him as he had then completed his first year in college. His education was continued in the camp and field, for on August 21, 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company D, Fifth Regiment of Vermont Infantry, and served until the completion of his term of enlistment in Aug 1864. He was made Sergeant Major 31 Dec 1861, promoted to Second Lt. 9 July 1862, as a reward for distinguished valor at Savage Station. 24 Jan 1863 he was again promoted to the First Lieutenancy of his Company and early in Feb, 1863, he was detailed as Adjutant of his Regiment and held the position until he was mustered out of service.
He was engaged in many of the greatest battles of the Civil War, among some of the most important of which may be mentioned Lee's Mills, Williamsburg, The 7 Days' Fight, Golding's Farm, White Oak Swamp, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, 1st & 2nd Fredericksburg, including Mary's Heights, Salem Heights, Banks Ford, Chancellorsville.Funkstown and Williamsport. He was at Rappahannock Station during the winter of 1863-4, south of the Rapidan, in the Wilderness of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, and fought his last fight in that war at historic Charlestown, Virginia. His army record shows that he was not absent from his Regiment a single day during his entire term of service, and that his hospital record was entirely blank. No wonder, then, that he was proud of his record as a soldier!
After the war he returned to Vermont, entered the Albany Law School, graduated in 1866, settled to the practice of his profession at South Troy, Vermont, and married miss Flora Hadley, who, with two children, died previous to his removal to Minneapolis in 1871. In Minnesota he rapidly acquired a high rank in the practice of law and was regarded as one of the leading lawyers of the State. It was said that he was a fair opponent, but a hard fighter, and, above all things, he abhorred trickery and deceit. In 1875 he was again married to Miss Jeanette Graham, who died in 1885, leaving him three children.
His Masonic career began in Vermont after his discharge from the Army. He was initiated and passed 11 January and raised 11 Feb1865, in Mount Vernon Lodge, No.8, and was demitted February 5, 1868. On his arrival in Minnesota he affiliated with Hennepin Lodge, No. 4 on 13 Nov 1872. He was elected Junior Warden of that Lodge in 1874, Senior Warden in 1875, and Worshipful Master in 1876, 1877 and 1878. He entered the Grand Lodge in 1875. where his abilities were quickly recognized and he was appointed to positions on various committees to the lasting advantage of the Grand Lodge. He was then appointed Grand Sword Bearer. He was elected Senior Grand Warden in 1878, Deputy Grand Master in 1879 and 188o, and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1882 and 1883. He was a member of the Committee on Appeals and Grievances in 1876 and 1877, Chairman of the Committee on Obituaries in 1878, a member of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence in 1879, and of the Grand Lodge Funds in 1880.
He was a member of the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence and Residue of Address in 1882 and was chairman of the Committees on Masonic Jurisprudence for 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1890. In 1887 he was also a member of the Committees on Legislation, on A.'. & A.'. S.'. Rite, on Decisions of the Grand Master and Perpetual Jurisdiction. In 1890 he was also chairman of the Committee on Cerneauism. He took the Capitulate Degrees in St. Anthony Falls Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3, in 1879; the M.'. M.'. and P.'. M.'. Degrees on February 8th, and the M.'. E.'. M.'. and Royal Arch Degrees on 8 Feb 1879. On 14 June 1879, he was elected P.'. S.'., and on 14 June 1889 was elected High Priest and was re-elected 11 June 1881.
The Cryptic Degrees he took in Adoniram Council, No. 5; also in 1879, receiving all the degrees on April 14th. On 8 Dec 1879, he was elected P"' C"' of W.'. and Thrice illustrious Master 13 Dec 1880. He was Knighted in Darius Commandery, No. 7, K.'. T.'., in 1879, receiving the degree of Red Cross on May 9th and Knight Templar May 16th. 'He was elected Captain General 1 March 188o; Generalissimo 4 April 1881 Eminent Commander, 3 April 1882, and was re-elected Eminent Commander 5 March 1883.
Our distinguished Brother was also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America. All the degrees from the Fourth to the 32nd were conferred upon him by Venerable Brother Albert Pike on 24 September 1879.
He was made Inspector General Honorary (Thirty-third degree) 6 Sept 1883. He affiliated with the Scottish Rite in Minneapolis 9 January 1880; was elected J.'. W.'. in Lodge of Perfection January 15, 1880 and retained that office until 1886. He was elected First Sub-Preceptor (Thirtieth degree) 28 Jan 1880 and remained in that position until 1886. He was also elected M... of K.'. 27 Apr 1880 and was such officer until Jan. 1884. 10 Dec 1887 he was elected and initiated a member of the Royal Order of Scotland.
Four days after his death,14 Nov 1890, the Grand Lodge surrrounded his grave in Lakewood and consigned his body to to Mother Earth with the usual solemnities.
-/———-
Hide article text (OCR)
Death of C. Henry Benton. Henry Benton, who died in Minn., Nov. 10, was a native Lunenburg, where he was born in parents afterwards moved to and the father went West, where at Rockford, III. In 18(50 Mr. entered the University of in 1861 enlisted in the Fifth being promoted to first and mustered out Sep. 19, after he entered the Albany from which he graduated in commenced practicing in Troy, He married Aliss Flora died in 1809. Two years later went to Minneapolis, where married to Jeannette Graham city, who bore him two and Harry. Mr. wife died about seven years Benton was one of the most members of the Alasonic craft Minneapolis. He was connected order for years, and at one time the office of grand master in Minnesota.
January 9, 1883
The Most Worshipful Grand Master C. Henry Benton, assisted by officers, opened a lodge of Master Masons, preparatory to the opening of the Minnesota Grand Lodge:
M, W.'. C. Henry Benrox. ....Grand Master.
MN GL report of 1893
The grand masters address of sixteen pages makes no pretensions towards oratorical display, he does not even tell us that another year is gone, an item of news that no other Grand Master has omitted to the best of our recollection, but the address is a good, strong sound business document, a cordial and most fraternal greeting to the master builders and the workmen from the quarries, tempered with sadness forthe vacant seats of past grand masters J. H. Brown, C. H. Benton, and A. T. C. Pierson, Bro. G. W. Lamson, past grand orator, and Frederick Joss, past junior grand warden.
Yet mourning not the loved and lost without hope, for
"Masonry" has always taught the doctrines of the resurrection and the immortality of the soul.
Digested From Proceedings of 1903
CALEB HENRY BENTON. MN Eleventh Grand Master: 1882-1883.
Farmer's son, student, soldier, and lawyer are words which express the vocations of a life of less than fifty years, every one of which was crowded with earnest endeavor and faithful discharge of duty. On February 26, 1841, in Lunenberg, Essex County, Vermont, Caleb Henry Benton was born and in the city of Minneapolis, just after high twelve,10 November 1890, without a moment's warning, the lamp of life was forever extinguished. His early years were said to be 'uneventful'. At the age of twenty he had received such training as the country schools and academies of Vermont could offer him as he had then completed his first year in college. His education was continued in the camp and field, for on August 21, 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company D, Fifth Regiment of Vermont Infantry, and served until the completion of his term of enlistment in Aug 1864. He was made Sergeant Major 31 Dec 1861, promoted to Second Lt. 9 July 1862, as a reward for distinguished valor at Savage Station. 24 Jan 1863 he was again promoted to the First Lieutenancy of his Company and early in Feb, 1863, he was detailed as Adjutant of his Regiment and held the position until he was mustered out of service.
He was engaged in many of the greatest battles of the Civil War, among some of the most important of which may be mentioned Lee's Mills, Williamsburg, The 7 Days' Fight, Golding's Farm, White Oak Swamp, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, 1st & 2nd Fredericksburg, including Mary's Heights, Salem Heights, Banks Ford, Chancellorsville.Funkstown and Williamsport. He was at Rappahannock Station during the winter of 1863-4, south of the Rapidan, in the Wilderness of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, and fought his last fight in that war at historic Charlestown, Virginia. His army record shows that he was not absent from his Regiment a single day during his entire term of service, and that his hospital record was entirely blank. No wonder, then, that he was proud of his record as a soldier!
After the war he returned to Vermont, entered the Albany Law School, graduated in 1866, settled to the practice of his profession at South Troy, Vermont, and married miss Flora Hadley, who, with two children, died previous to his removal to Minneapolis in 1871. In Minnesota he rapidly acquired a high rank in the practice of law and was regarded as one of the leading lawyers of the State. It was said that he was a fair opponent, but a hard fighter, and, above all things, he abhorred trickery and deceit. In 1875 he was again married to Miss Jeanette Graham, who died in 1885, leaving him three children.
His Masonic career began in Vermont after his discharge from the Army. He was initiated and passed 11 January and raised 11 Feb1865, in Mount Vernon Lodge, No.8, and was demitted February 5, 1868. On his arrival in Minnesota he affiliated with Hennepin Lodge, No. 4 on 13 Nov 1872. He was elected Junior Warden of that Lodge in 1874, Senior Warden in 1875, and Worshipful Master in 1876, 1877 and 1878. He entered the Grand Lodge in 1875. where his abilities were quickly recognized and he was appointed to positions on various committees to the lasting advantage of the Grand Lodge. He was then appointed Grand Sword Bearer. He was elected Senior Grand Warden in 1878, Deputy Grand Master in 1879 and 188o, and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1882 and 1883. He was a member of the Committee on Appeals and Grievances in 1876 and 1877, Chairman of the Committee on Obituaries in 1878, a member of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence in 1879, and of the Grand Lodge Funds in 1880.
He was a member of the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence and Residue of Address in 1882 and was chairman of the Committees on Masonic Jurisprudence for 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1890. In 1887 he was also a member of the Committees on Legislation, on A.'. & A.'. S.'. Rite, on Decisions of the Grand Master and Perpetual Jurisdiction. In 1890 he was also chairman of the Committee on Cerneauism. He took the Capitulate Degrees in St. Anthony Falls Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3, in 1879; the M.'. M.'. and P.'. M.'. Degrees on February 8th, and the M.'. E.'. M.'. and Royal Arch Degrees on 8 Feb 1879. On 14 June 1879, he was elected P.'. S.'., and on 14 June 1889 was elected High Priest and was re-elected 11 June 1881.
The Cryptic Degrees he took in Adoniram Council, No. 5; also in 1879, receiving all the degrees on April 14th. On 8 Dec 1879, he was elected P"' C"' of W.'. and Thrice illustrious Master 13 Dec 1880. He was Knighted in Darius Commandery, No. 7, K.'. T.'., in 1879, receiving the degree of Red Cross on May 9th and Knight Templar May 16th. 'He was elected Captain General 1 March 188o; Generalissimo 4 April 1881 Eminent Commander, 3 April 1882, and was re-elected Eminent Commander 5 March 1883.
Our distinguished Brother was also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America. All the degrees from the Fourth to the 32nd were conferred upon him by Venerable Brother Albert Pike on 24 September 1879.
He was made Inspector General Honorary (Thirty-third degree) 6 Sept 1883. He affiliated with the Scottish Rite in Minneapolis 9 January 1880; was elected J.'. W.'. in Lodge of Perfection January 15, 1880 and retained that office until 1886. He was elected First Sub-Preceptor (Thirtieth degree) 28 Jan 1880 and remained in that position until 1886. He was also elected M... of K.'. 27 Apr 1880 and was such officer until Jan. 1884. 10 Dec 1887 he was elected and initiated a member of the Royal Order of Scotland.
Four days after his death,14 Nov 1890, the Grand Lodge surrrounded his grave in Lakewood and consigned his body to to Mother Earth with the usual solemnities.
-/———-
Hide article text (OCR)
Death of C. Henry Benton. Henry Benton, who died in Minn., Nov. 10, was a native Lunenburg, where he was born in parents afterwards moved to and the father went West, where at Rockford, III. In 18(50 Mr. entered the University of in 1861 enlisted in the Fifth being promoted to first and mustered out Sep. 19, after he entered the Albany from which he graduated in commenced practicing in Troy, He married Aliss Flora died in 1809. Two years later went to Minneapolis, where married to Jeannette Graham city, who bore him two and Harry. Mr. wife died about seven years Benton was one of the most members of the Alasonic craft Minneapolis. He was connected order for years, and at one time the office of grand master in Minnesota.
Family Members
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