Melville BENEDICT, a prosperous and public-spirited citizen of Riley Township, residing on section 3, was born in Fairfield County, Connecticut, March 20, 1853, a son of Benjamin and Emily BENEDICT, the father born in New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut August 23, 1824 [died January 18, 1909, interment Patrick Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa], and the mother a native of North Salem, Westchester County, New York, born July 8, 1828. The mother died in Connecticut, March 18, 1864, leaving three children - Mrs. Clementine BLOOMER, living in Connecticut; Melville, our subject and Van Wyck, born November 22, 1860, a telegraph operator of Polk County, Iowa. Melville BENEDICT accompanied his father to this State in 1868, making their home in Burlington about seven years, when he removed to Decatur County.

Our subject was married in Decatur County, December 16, 1877, to Miss Susan E. LONGACRE, born in Marion County, Ohio, March 6, 1860, a daughter of Daniel LONGACRE, who died in Decatur County, July 22, 1882.

Mr. and Mrs. BENEDICT have had three children, of whom their first child died in infancy. The names of those living are - Mary J., born May 8, 1881, and May M., born May 1, 1884.

Mr. BENEDICT located on his present farm on section 3 in the fall of 1878, where he has 220 acres, besides which he owns two other small tracts, twenty acres in this, Riley Township, and seventeen acres in Harrison County, Missouri.

Politically Mr. BENEDICT is a Republican. He is a much-respected citizen of Riley Township, and gives liberally of his means toward the advancement of any enterprise which he deems for the good of his neighborhood, township or county.

NOTE: Meville BENEDICT died January 20, 1907, with interment at Patrick Cemetery, Riley Township of Ringgold County, Iowa. Susan E. (LONGACRE) BENEDICT died September 21, 1894, and was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. May M., daughter of Melville and Susan E. (LONGACRE) BENEDICT, died at the age of 34 years and was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 322-32, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z