Bio: Peck, Benson & Mary Jane (Ward)
Contact: Stan

----Source: Pg. 386, 1881 History of Northern, WI, 1860-1870-1880 Census Reports, Benson Peck is featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin." Contributors--Ken Wood, & Janet Schwarze

Surnames: Benson, Bishop, Dabney, Derby, Peck, Rose, Stafford, Ward

Benson & Mary Jane (Ward) Peck

 

 

Benson was born in Whitehall, Washington Co., NY during 1823, the son of Seth Peck.   He served his country twice during the Civil War.  He first enlisted with Co. E, 16th Wis., Inf. and later with Co. G 7th Wis., Inf.  He was shot in the neck at Wilderness, VA, May 5, 1864 and was able to return to duty only to be wounded again 6 Feb 1865 at Dabney’s Mill.  He was shot in the left hand and near the thigh in the back of his right leg muscle.  His hand required amputation below his fist knuckles.  Although his thumb remained it was inflexible and to compensate, he used a specially designed fork. 

 

 

Benson Peck’s Special Fork

 

Benson married Mary "Jane" Ward (ca. 1831, PA) in Jefferson Co, WI, 29 Dec 1848.  Sixty-five million feet of logs were being sawed annually for shipping down the Yellow River into the Wisconsin River and on to Galena, IL to be sold for $11 per thousand feet.  Nearly every laborer worked at the Saw Mill and Benson was no exception.  He and Jane had 2 children: Ella Ann (Nov 1855, WI, m. John Bishop Rose-div., 2nd m. Ernest Derby) and Hugh Benson (ca. 1873 Lincoln Twp., Wood Co, WI, d. 22 Feb 1888).  When Hugh was 9 yrs. old he accidentally shot himself and was severely wounded.  Later that same year, his mother was frightened to death by a bear while picking berries in the woods near their home.  Hearing footsteps, she turned to see a huge black bear coming toward her.  Dropping her berries, she ran some distance before fainting an falling over a pine log.  After regaining her senses she saw the bear quietly eating her berries and managed to slip away.  The shock was so profound that after several days of illness, she gradually sank and died 21 Sep 1882 failing to celebrate a 52nd birthday.  Benson died 10 Mar 1888 and that summer his marker was ordered from Sheldon & Sons, W. Rutland, VT, 21 Aug 1888.  Both he and Hugh are buried in the Greenwood, WI City Cemetery.

 

Benson and Jane had two children:

 

1. Ella M. Peck - Was born November 1855 in Wisconsin and died sometime after 1920. She married John Bishop "Jack" Rose, Jr., and they later divorced and he married Ludovich "Louise" Stafford.  Her only son was named Warren Hilliary Rose. He was three years old at the time of the 1880 census.  She later married Ernest Derby about 1882.

2. Hugh Benson Peck - Was born about 1873 in Lincoln Twp., Wood County, Wisconsin and died February 22, 1888 in Wisconsin.

  

News Clips

 

The Marshfield Times, (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Saturday, March 18, 1882

Accident.

 

A little boy, son of Benson Peck, living in the town of Richfield, accidentally shot himself on Tuesday last. The wound is quite severe, but not necessarily fatal.

 

The Waukesha Freeman, (Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wis.) Thursday, October 12, 1882

 

Wisconsin Items.

 

Mrs. Benson Peck, of Wood County, was frightened to death by a bear the other day. She was picking berries in the woods near her home, when she heard footsteps, and turning saw a huge black bear coming toward her. She dropped her berries and ran some distance, when she fainted and fell over a pine log. On regaining her senses she saw the bear quietly eating her berries, and managed to slip away without attracting his attention. The shock she had sustained was more than she could bear, however, and after an illness of several days she gradually sank and died.  

 

 

 

1860 Federal Census—Necedah, Juneau County, Wisconsin

Name

Relation

Marital

Sex

Color

Age

Birthplace

Occupation

Father Born

Mother Born

Peck, Benson

Head

Married

Male

White

36

New York

Laborer

Delaware

Delaware

Peck, Mary Jane

Wife

Married

Female

White

28

Pennsylvania

Boarding house

New York

Connecticut

Peck, Ella Ann

Daughter

Single

Female

White

        5

Wisconsin

 

New York

Pennsylvania

 

Necedah, Wisconsin is situated at the base of a high bluff, on the Yellow River, a few miles from its mouth, and opposite the famous Pete-en-Well Rock, a curiously constructed quartzite mound, on the west bank of the Wisconsin River.  It was an important lumbering town in the early days of Wisconsin history.  We believe Benson's brother, William (b. 1827, Allegany Co., NY) was also a pioneer farmer in Necedah, Wisconsin and was married to Mary Jane's sister, Eliza S. (Ward) Peck.

 

1870 Federal Census—Necedah, Juneau County, Wisconsin

Name

Relation

Marital

Sex

Color

Age

Birthplace

Occupation

Father Born

Mother Born

Peck, Benson

Head

Married

Male

White

44

New York

Works in saw mill

Delaware

Delaware

Peck, Mary Jane

Wife

Married

Female

White

34

Pennsylvania

Keeps House

New York

Connecticut

Peck, Ella

Daughter

Single

Female

White

14

Wisconsin

 

New York

Pennsylvania

 

1880 State Census--Hull, Marathon, Wisconsin

Name Relation Marital

Sex

Color

Age

Birthplace

Occupation

Father Born Mother Born
Peck, Benson Head Married Male White 57 New York Laborer Delaware Delaware
Peck, Mary Jane Wife Married Female White 45 Pennsylvania Keeping House New York Connecticut
Rose, Ella M. Daughter Single Female White 24 Wisconsin   New York Pennsylvania
Peck, Hugh B. Son Single Male White 7 Wisconsin   New York Pennsylvania
Rose, Warren Grandson Single Male White 3 Wisconsin   Wisconsin Wisconsin

 

Military Records

 

 

Benson Peck, Civil War Soldier

1823 - 1888

Benson Peck was born in 1823.  He enlisted with Co. "G" in the 7th Regiment of the Wisconsin Infantry on January 21st, 1864 serving as a Private.  He died 9 Mar 1888 and was wounded and absent when his regiment was discharged.  He is buried in the Greenwood, Wisconsin City Cemetery.  His daughter who was living in an insane asylum in Chicago was listed as his next of kin on his grave registration.

Source: Wis. Vol. 769 Roster, Vol. 1, p. 564.

(Click on the document to enlarge it)

 

7th Wisconsin, Company G - Enlisted Men

Peck, Benson   (No known Descendants/Relatives)
Born: Unknown - Died: Unknown * Residence at time of enlistment: Durand, Pepin Co., WI
Enlisted: January 1, 1864 as a Corporal - Absent at Regimental Muster Out: July 3, 1865 (wounds)
Wounded: May 5, 1864 at Wilderness, VA and February 6, 1865 at Hatcher's Run, VA

Research Notes

Pg. 386, 1881 History of Northern, WI

 

WILLIAM PECK, engineer and millwright, Necedah, is a native of New York, born in Allegany County in 1827 ; received a common school education, and followed farming until 1845. He then went to Illinois, where he worked at farming during the Summer, and in Winter seasons engaged in lumbering near Watertown, Wis., for two years, when he moved to Jefferson Co., Wis., for about two years, after which he went to Sauk County, settling at Reedsburg, of which place he was one of the first settlers, and was engaged in the manufacture of lumber for about four years, at the end of which time, in March, 1853, he came to Necedah, and was employed in the mill of John Werner for three years, then in the mill of T. Weston & Co. for three years, after which he purchased an interest in a mill, and run the same for three vears, at the end of which time he was employed as foreman in the mill of T. Weston & Co. until 1873. the" as foreman in the mill of Bradford, McCoy & Co. until the Spring of 1880. He then spent the Summer in the Dilly Shingle Mill, since which time he has been in the employ of George P. Burch & Co. as engineer and millwright. He was married, in the Fall of 1848, to Eliza S. Ward, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1830. They have six children—Theron, Martha E., Mary, Vernon and Elmer. Mr. Peck is a Republican in politics, and a great joker. The number of "gianthers and crockajoes" he has slain is unknown..

 

 


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