Aaron Benedict, Sr.

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Husband Aaron Benedict, Sr. ^{1 2 3}

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           Born: 17 Feb 1779 - West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co, MA 1 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 Mar 1860 - ? Venango Co, PA 5 6
         Buried:  - Pleasantville Cemetery, Oil Creek Twp, Venango Co, PA 6

       Marriage: 

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• Note: This may be the same person as : Aaron Benedict.

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Wife

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           Born: 
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Children

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1 M Aaron Benedict, Jr. ^{1 2 3}

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           Born: 
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           Died: Aft 1879
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2 F [Unk] Benedict

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           Born: 
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         Spouse: William Porter (      -1853) 4 7

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General Notes: Husband - Aaron Benedict, Sr.

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He was a native of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, of English parentage, and as a young man settled in New York state, where he acquired substantial business interests. During the War of 1812 he was the proprietor of flouring mills between Cortland and Homer, in Cortland County, becoming quite wealthy, and at the close of the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Fabius, Onondaga County, at which place he was a leader in business and social activities. He built a Baptist Church, and was prominent generally in enterprises designed to promote the public good. When the Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike was constructed, in 1818-19, he took a contract to do a considerable part of the work. His own operations were profitable, but heavy losses occasioned by the failure of others, with whom he was associated, made it necessary for him to sacrifice his property in order to meet his obligations, and the results of years of successful labor were swept away. Having formed the acquaintance of Mr. Huidekoper, of Meadville, agent for the Holland Land Company, and having also gained some knowledge of this section while carrying out his contract in the construction of the turnpike, he saw an opportunity to retrieve his fortunes by venturing into the new region, and made a settlement in the spring of 1821 on a tract of 400 acres which he had secured, embracing the site that has become Pleasantville. His son, Aaron, Jr., had come out the previous year and sowed a field of wheat, which helped to provide the family with food until they could make a start at the new home. In the summer of 1821 Peter Vhreum, a stonemason of Mead-ville, built a stone house for the Benedicts on the east side of what became known as Main street, which was for many years one of the most substantial and commodious residences in the county. It cost one thousand and sixty dollars. There was a fine spring at the side of the house then, but like many others it disappeared after oil operations were begun. Mr. Benedict became agent for the survey and sale of the Holland lands, and an influential mem-ber of the community, holding various local offices, including that of justice of the peace for many years. He was originally a Whig in politics, later a Republican. He had nineteen children. [HVC 1919, 398]

He was one of the most prominent of the pioneer residents of Pleasantville, Venango County, Pennsylvania. He arrived there from his Eastern home about 1827-28, changing his residence partly because of the suspicion that he was in some way associated with the disappearance of the famous William Morgan and the antagonism to members of the Masonic fraternity excited by that event.

1 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg 617.

2 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1108.

3 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 124.

4 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 398.

5 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg 618.

6 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 734.

7 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 726.