BENJAMIN BENNETT VARNUM. In naming the men of Jackson county who have
been instrumental in building up their community, and have so conducted
their affairs as to advance the best interests of their fellow citizens,
prominent mention should be given to Benjamin Bennett Varnum, through whose
long and honorable career the city of Ava and the surrounding country has
benefited hugely, and in whose retirement this locality lost one of its most
sterling business men, one who had indelibly left his mark upon the
commercial history of Southern Illinois. Born on a farm in Monroe county,
Illinois, December 16, 1841, Mr. Varnum is a son of Justice Bradley and
Sarah Ann (Dixon) Varnum.
When Justice Varnum was only a. boy he
removed with his parents from Belfast, Maine, where he had been born
November 24, 1799, to Ohio, and there his father, Moses Varnum, engaged in
farming in what was then the Northwest Territory. In 1818, when Illinois was
admitted to the Union, Justice Varnum came to this state with his parents,
locating in Monroe county, where the family remained for some time. After
about six months spent in the southern states, in 1821, on a bear hunting
expedition, Justice Varnum became connected with a trading company and went
on a trip up the Yellowstone river to trade with the Indians. On his return
he remained in Monroe county on his farm and also engaged in the coopering
business. According to Mr. Varnum "he had a few more wild oats to sow," and
with a party of' "forty-niners" he took the trip to California. Accumulating
a considerable share of the precious metal, Justice Varnum returned to his
family in 1851. and continued to live on his farm until his death, September
22, 1861. He was an accomplished violinist, and was a great favorite among
those attending local gatherings of a social nature. He was first a Whig and
later a Republican, but acted rather as an onlooker than as an office
seeker. On October 31, 1830, Mr. Varnum was married to Miss Sarah Ann Dixon,
of Jefferson county, Missouri, who was born December 31, 1808, and died
April 4, 1882, and they were the parents of nine children, as follows:
Virginia, who died in infancy; John Carlisle, born in 1833, who died in
1861; Christopher Columbus, born in 1835, who died in 1839; Austin Dixon,
born in 1837; Horace Addison, born in 1839; Benjamin Bennett, born in 1841;
Margaret Isabel, born in 1844, who died in 1845; Leverett Decatur, born in
1846; and Justin Frederick, born in 1849.
Benjamin Bennett Varnum 's
early life was spent in Monroe county, Illinois, and his education secured
in the subscription schools. He remained on his father's farm until he
became of age, at which time he was married and established himself on a
farm of his own in the same county. His wife was Sarah Ann Barker, born
December 13, 1843, who died February 11, 1878, daughter of Lewis and Sarah
(Tolin) Barker, of Waterloo, Illinois. Five children were born to this
union, all of whom are now deceased: Eleanor Elsie, Carrie Lois, Laura
Ethel, Olive Isabel and Justice Warren. In 1882 Mr. Varnum came to Ava,
Illinois, and became in time one of the most prominent agriculturists of
these parts, owning twelve hundred acres of valuable land. In 1907 he gave
up agriculture to engage in the lumber business, in which he was extensively
engaged for some time, and with which he is still largely interested,
although now retired from business activities. Originally a Republican, Mr.
Varnum changed his views during the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes,
whose policy of keeping a standing army in the South did not meet with Mr.
Varnum 's approval, and since that time his support has been given to the
Democratic party. He has served two terms on the county board, and as a
friend of the cause of education has done much, being at present president
of the board of education. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic
order.
In 1880 Mr. Varnum was married to Miss Minnie Boedecker, of
Waterloo, Illinois, daughter of Henry and Minnie (Spellmeyer) Boedecker, and
nine children have been born to them: Floyd Leslie, Edwin Bennett, Grover,
Horace Homer, James Addison, Blanchard Banks, Nelson Carlisle, Noah Claude
and William Jewett, of whom Floyd L., Horace H., James A. and Nelson C. are
deceased. In all movements calculated to be of benefit to his community Mr.
Varnum has ever taken an active part, and his career has been such as to
stamp him a worthy representative of an honored family that traces its
ancestry back to the year 1635, and in which may be found names of note in
the military, the professions and the various honorable vocations of life.
Extracted 15 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 2, pages 958-960.