William Lumb Benson, who was often called “Lum” was born Sept 1, 1852 in Marion, one of six children to Archibald T. Benson and Julia Ann Bower. His father, Archibald, was a pillar of the community being the first president of the town of Marion (before the Mayoral system), organizer of several churches in Williamson County and a Marion businessman. His parents were the donors of the property for the original survey of the city of Marion (the downtown square) and Archibald purchased the original lot where the old Bank of Marion now sits, soon to be the new city hall.
In the 1860, 1870 and 1880 federal census records, William was found to be living with his parents and most of his siblings. Goodspeed’s history of Williamson County recounts that in 1870, William and his younger brother Andrew J. Benson opened a drug store in Crab Orchard together. Andrew would go on to become a prominent Marion businessman like his father. In that same year, William’s 33 year old lawyer brother Joseph was murdered in Stonefort, Illinois. By the 1880 census, William was listed as a 28 year old clerk in a dry good store.
On October 22, 1885, William married Mary Delilah Pope, daughter of W.J. Pope & Louisa M. Williams. Mary who often went by “May” and was born March 13, 1863. Over their short marriage they had the following children: Lois Pope Benson in 1886, Celeste P. Benson in October, 1887, Gladys P. Benson 1891 and Joseph Pope Benson in 1889.
In 1886 and 1887 William served as alderman for the City of Marion under Mayor James C. Jackson, a local furniture store operator. In the same period, William served as officer of the local Masonic Lodge #89 and the Williamson Lodge #392 of the International Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1890 William and his wife Mary purchased two lots which would now show up as about 612 N. Madison Street. Money problems appears to have been an issue because they ended up having to refinance the home in 1892. Likewise, in 1890 they also had purchased rural property east of Herrin only to have to refinance it one year later in 1891.
In 1892, William’s 29 year old wife Mary passed away while in Creal Springs on December 30, 1892 and was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.
In January of 1895, William used collateral to obtain goods from a Goodbar Shoe Company out of St. Louis and was then taken to court in June of that year when he failed to make his payments.
On March 28, 1899, William re-married to an Eva B. Paddleford (nee Bye) from Tuscola, Illinois in Effingham. In May of that year, William and Eva B. purchased two lots and later in the year a third that line up on N. Monroe St. starting at the NE corner of W. Boulevard and going north up N. Monroe St.
On March 15, 1900, William L. died after a protracted illness and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Notes on Children:
Louis Pope Benson, born Aug 12, 1886, married Dr. Frank C. Murrah, died July 31, 1951, buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Marion
Celeste Pope Benson, born October 15, 1887, married Wayne Locksley Smith, died in Princeton, Indiana on October 17, 1972
Joseph Pope Benson, born December 14, 1889, married Marie M. Margrave, died March 16, 1954 in Robinson, Illinois
Gladys Pope Benson, born September 14, 1891, died September 12, 1972 in St. Louis, Mo, no marriage
(Sources: Federal Census records, Goodspeed’s History of Williamson County, The Leader Newspaper, Marion Monitor newspaper, FindaGrave.com, Marion City Cemetery records, WC Mortgage Records, WCHS resources. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 8/10/2023)