Benton Thurston, a leading general agriculturist and able Supervisor ofChester Township, Ottawa County, Mich., was born March 20, 1941, in SullivanCounty, N.Y., and was the son of Daniel Thurston, who located in Grand Rapids,Mich., in 1856. The mother, in maidenhood Miss Madison, passed away in theEmpire State when our subject was only a little boy. The father, aship-carpenter, worked at his trade in Grand Rapids and also erected numerousbuildings; he was also a millwright, and in 1858 or 1860 built a large flouringmill in Lisbon. Removed to Lisbon, he handled merchandise for a time, but in1864 went to Missouri and settled in Princeton. After the war he removed to theeastern part of the latter State and died there in about 1881. He was twicemarried, and by the mother of our subject had five children. Frank resides inPennsylvania; John is a resident of South Dakota; Hannah is the wife of JacobMann; Benton is our subject; and Alfred makes him home in Colorado.

Benton Thurston was mainly educated in the common schools of Ottawa Countyand was only a young lad when he began the battle of life for himself. Desirousof attending school, he worked for small wages while he was pursuing his studiesand was employed variously in clearing land and in the lumber districts. InAugust, 1862, answering the call of the Government, he enlisted in Company H,Fourth Michigan Cavalry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, beingfirst under the command of Gen. Buell and later under R. H. G. Minty, ofDetroit. Actively participating in the battle of Perryville, and following inpursuit of Morgan through Kentucky, Mr. Thurston took an active part in theengagements of Lebanon, Stone River and Various skirmishes, after which hereturned to Louisville, later engaging in the Atlanta campaign. The brigade towhich the regiment of our subject belonged opened fire at Chickamaugua. Finallycamping near Louisville, after being mounted almost night and day, Mr. Thurstonbarely missed being present at the fight of Nashville, and with his regimentwent into winter quarters at Grand Springs. In the spring of 1865 the regimenttook part in the celebrated Wilson Raid through Tennessee and Georgia, and alsofought the last battle at Columbia, Ga. Our subject was captured nearChattanooga, on the Tennessee River, but was immediately paroled and wasmustered out of service at Nashville, Tenn., in July, 1865. Enlisting as aprivate, he was promoted to be a Corporal, and was mustered out as a Sergeantafter two years and eleven months of active service, arriving safely at homeJuly 14, 1865.

Having saved a considerable portion of the money received while in the army,Mr. Thurston invested it in the eighty acres of land upon which he now residesand which he purchased some time before the close of the war. The acres were allheavily timbered, and during his absence twenty acres were cleared. Upon hisreturn home he cleared ten cares, and in 1865 and 1866 was logging in the WhiteRiver country. He worked in different places and was engaged in variousoccupations until 1871, when he was united in marriage with Miss ElizabethRosenberg, a native of Michigan, and a daughter of Benjamin and Mary A. (Suchart)Rosenberg, early settlers of Ottawa County and of German parentage. Of the ninechildren of Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg two died young. David resides in GrandRapids; Elizabeth is Mrs. Thurston; Hannah, deceased, was the wife of J. P.Burman; Henry, George, Mary and Emma complete the list. Mr. and Mrs. Rosenbergreside in Ottawa County.

Our subject and his estimable wife have been blessed with the presence offour intelligent children: Viola, Vinnie, Earl and Hazel. Viola, an accomplishedyoung lady, is a graduate of the Lisbon School, the High School of Grand Rapidsand the Training School of Grand Rapids. She taught successfully in 1892 in thecity school, and will have the same position in 1893. Vinnie excels in music andwill undoubtedly make that her profession. At the time of his marriage, Mr.Thurston had cleared and cultivated forty acres and built a small house. He hassixty acres under high cultivation now, and has also a peach and apple orchardand handles with profit a high grade of cattle, horses and sheep. Mr. and Mrs.Thurston take a high social position in the best circles of the county and enjoythe confidence and regard of many old-time friends.

Fraternally, our subject is connected with Lisbon Lodge No. 229, A. F. &A. M., and is Treasurer of the same, which responsible position he has held withfidelity many years. Politically an Independent, Mr. Thurston has occupied withmarked ability various important positions of trust, and in 1887 was electedTreasurer of the township; he was re-elected in 1888, and only beaten by threevotes in 1889. In 1890 elected Supervisor, he has been re-elected eachsucceeding year and has discharged the duties involved to the great satisfactionof his fellow-townsmen. Widely known throughout Ottawa County, our subject isexceedingly popular and counts his friends by the score.