Thomas Benson

Description

Thomas Benson was born on May 5th 1853 in Heskin, Lancashire England to Nathan Benson and Ann Baybutt. Heskin is a small parish about halfway between Preston and Manchester in the Northwest of England. Thomas was named after his second great grandfather Thomas who was born in 1721 in Eccleston England. Thomas was the third child in a family of eight. In his early teens the family converted to Mormonism, and subsequently left England to come to America. His family came to Parowan sometime around 1868. Thomas worked many jobs in the area, but spent much of his time working with the local co-op herd of cattle in Bear Valley. Thomas also worked at the equitable co-op sawmill driving teams of horses for the logging operation. Thomas served for many years as a board member of the equitable store, and also served on the Parowan city council.

Thomas and Laura Alice Marsden married on February 17th 1876, then later went to the St. George temple to be sealed in 1880. Thomas and Laura had a total of ten children, but three of them died as small children.