ELDORADO FORD BENSON

Mr. Benson is from an old and honorable Canadian family, and his grandfather, as well as his father, were among the early pioneers in this section of the country.

Mr. Benson’s father fought at Chippawa in 1812 and 1813, and met his future wife at that place; her family name was Deamud. His father, Albert, learned the trade of blacksmith at Napanee, Ont., and was so impressed with the slogan of that day, “Go West, young man,” and seeking a better opportunity went to Niagara and worked in a carriage manufacturing shop for a year. At that time there were no railroads, and all transportation was done by way of the old canal; he walked to St. Catharines to take a boat to visit his home, but found on his arrival there he had missed the boat by one day, and so determined was he on making this trip that he walked all the way to Port Maitland. The grandfather, who was an early pioneer, had gone west to seek his fortune and finally died at White Pigeon, Iowa; when the elder Benson, then took over the grandfather’s farm at Port Maitland, and went back to work on his trade at a place half way between Stromes and Port Maitland. In this latter place he met his wife, Miss Isabella Sheehan. He died when the subject of this review was but seventeen months old.

Eldorado F. Benson was born on April 25^th, 1853 in Port Maitland, Ont., and is the son of Albert and Isabella (Sheehan) Benson, who originally came from Prince Edward County. Mr. Benson acquired his early education and graduated from the public school of Stromess, and first started to work as a carpenter, building ships, in his native town. In 1878 he located in Dunnville, Ont., and remained there as a carriage builder for twenty years. In 1884 he was married to Miss Clara Misener, who died some years later. He now sought new fields and in 1898, went to Hamilton, Ontario, where he worked in the same line for two and a half years, then to Milton in 1901, working there until 1906 when he made his final move and located in Welland, twenty-three years ago, and has been there ever since at 33 N. Main Street. He started business in a modest way and now has ten men in his shop, nearly all of them over seventy years of age. In late years trade conditions and demands have changed, so that he now caters only to the finest trade making milk and bread wagons and commercial truck bodies, auto tops and trimming, auto and carriage painting. He was married the second time in April 1919 to Miss Sarah Jane Catell of Simcoe; they have two boys, Ernest and Collin Blaine. He has always been active in religious and social uplift work; being an ardent prohibitionist, attends the United Methodist Church, three generations on both sides of the house have attended the same church. He was a great angler in his early days and a great ball player, as catcher played on Dunnville and Hamilton teams.

The record of the Benson family           is an admirable one that reflects credit on those who have borne the name in the past, as well as those of the present generation. Eldorado F. Benson is a sincere man, conscientious and earnest; strong in his support of prohibition he has sought to lead his people in the way of right living, and to raise the standards in his community. He is a very successful business man and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.

A.E. Coombs
History of The Niagara Peninsula and the New Welland Canal
1930