Adonijah Benedict

December 25, 1834 - October 22, 1906

Adonijah Benedict, an early pioneer of York Township and Civil War veteran; came to Clark County from Fond du Lac County in 1873.  The 1870 Federal Census for Fond du Lac County lists an Adonijah Benedict living in Eldorado Township with his wife Clarissa, and four sons, including a sixteen-year-old son, Sanford.  He was a nephew of Jesse and Almeda Lawrence, two early settlers of York.  Adonijah was born in New York State and came to Wisconsin with his father, Solomon Benedict (who was an older brother to Almeda Lawrence).  He was also Rollie Benedict’s grandfather and Lulu Kronberger’s great-grandfather.  The Adonijah Benedict farm was located in Section 21.  Adonijah ran the Wilcox (York Center) Post Office and General Store for several years before selling it to his grandson, William E. Benedict. The Wilcox Post Office was established February 19, 1884 and discontinued on January 31, 1903.[i]