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Show Father Benson's Eighty-first Birthday Editor Leader - Yesterday a surprise party, on an extensive scale was held in the meetinghouse, to do honor to one of the founders of Hyrum, Father Alva Benson, it being his 81st birthday. His six children, forty-three grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren, and a large number of friends to the number of 126 assembled at noon. One of the grandsons then took a sleigh to Father Benson's and asked him to take a sleigh ride. The old gentleman at once consented, when he was driven to the meeting =house, and on his being invited to step inside, the surprise was complete. So well had the affair been managed, that Father Benson had no idea of what was going on until he was inside the meeting house, and on seeing a sumptuous dinner laid on the table, and the large company assembled, he asked the meaning of it, when his daughter, Mrs. Lucy Wilson, informed him that it was in remembrance of his 81st birthday. Bishop Liljenquist opened the meeting with prayer, Father Benson asked the blessing, and ample justice was done to the good things that had been provided. After the cloths had been removed, appropriate addresses were delivered by Bishop O.N. Liljenqist, counselor, James Unsworth and Elder Charles C. Shaw, also a song by R.H. Bradshaw and a suitable poem by Orson Wilson was read. Professor Savage's band enlivened the proceedings by sweet music. The young branches of the Benson family and their friends wound up the day's rejoicing with a party. Father Benson's numerous posterity all reside in Hyrum and all are faithful members of the Church, which is a source of great comfort to the venerable gentleman. Alva Benson was born December 13th A.D. 1709, at Derighter ? township Anandagua ? Co., N.Y. Embraced the gospel in the year 1832, in the State of Indiana, and removed the same year to Jackson Co., Mo., and was driven with the Saints to Lafayette Co., Clay Co., Caldwell Co., Far West, and Platt Co., where he built a new mill for the government. He then moved with the body of the Church to Illinois, suffering with the Saints in their [unreadable] and drivings. Father Benson crossed the plains in 1851 and settled in Springville, Utah Co. The following year he was called to strengthen Iron Co., and on April 1st 1860 came to Cache Valley. He was one of the first settlers of Hyrum and built the first house here, and ever since has been a very useful and honored member of the community. Respectfully, Salopian, Hyrum, Dec. 14th, 1880. |