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Spring Valley Cemetery ~ Benjamin Windsor ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Windsor, Benjamin
LAST NAME: Windsor FIRST NAME: Benjamin MIDDLE NAME:  NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
GENDER: M TITLE: 
BORN: 23 Apr 1832 DIED: 17 Mar 1912 BURIED:  (Spring Valley Cemetery)
OCCUPATION:  Farmer and Rancher
BIRTH PLACE:  Salisbury, Buckinghamshire, England
DEATH PLACE: Spring Valley, Polk Co., Oregon
NOTES: 

1860 OR CENSUS – Benjamin Windsor (28y, b England, occupation farmer)

1870 OR CENSUS – Benjamin Winsor (38y, b England, occupation farmer)

MARRIAGE – Benjamin Windsor of Polk County and Mary Allison were married 10 April 1872 by T.A. Wood, minister, at home of Frank Allison with Mary Watson & John Campbell as witnesses

1880 OR CENSUS – Benjamin Winsor (48y, b England, occupation farmer) enumerated with wife Mary (38y, b Canada) and 4 children, all born in Oregon, John A. (6y), Emma C. (4y), William (2y) and Frank (b Jan 1880)

1900 OR CENSUS – Benjamin Windsor (b Apr 1832, England, immigrated 1852, naturalized, married 28y) enumerated with wife Mary (b Feb 1843, Canada, immigrated 1869) and 2 children, Frank B. (b Jan 1880, Oregon) and Anna (b Oct 1882, Oregon); also with family was boarder Daniel Bowman (b Aug 1873, Illinois)

1910 OR CENSUS – Benjamin Windsor (77y, b England, immigrated 1852, naturalized, widowed)

BIOGRAPHICAL – Benjamin Winsor has been a resident of Oregon since the year that she became a State. He was born in Salisbury, Buckinghamshire, England, April 23, 1832. His parents were William and Leath (Robinson) Winsor, both natives of England, and both descendants of old English families. The father was christened in the Established Church, but the mother was a Methodist. Our subject’s mother was Mr Winsor’s second wife, and they had ten children. Mr Winsor was a mechanic by trade and was a worthy, good man.

     Our subject was reared in England until his twentieth year, when he set sail for America, in 1852, on the good American ship Masonic. He had received a limited education, but had a good pair of hands, and good farming experience as an occupation which, with good judgment, honesty of purpose and industrious habits, have gained for him success. As he expected to be a farmer he went West to Illinois, where he worked at farming for wages, for three and one-half years. Hearing of the gold diggings of California, he went West in 1856, and mined on the middle Yuba, near Downieville, where he remained seventeen months, and made $1,000 the first year; and then sunk it in the second year. The largest nugget he found was worth $20. He took out thirty-six ounces from one crevice. This was his first and best find, as he was unable to find anything nearly as rich afterward. From the mines he went to San Jose, and from there to Santa Cruz, and from there to Los Angeles, where he remained thirteen months. He then went to Fort Yuma, and via San Diego to San Francisco. He then came to Spring Valley via Portland, and arrived June 21, 1859. He had been seven years in the new world, had done a good deal of hard work and knocking about, and had saved a few dollars. In September he worked his passage from Portland up the river, on the boat which brought the lumber to build Spring Valley Presbyterian Church. He first worked for Major Walker, with whom he remained four months. He then worked nine months for Mr Jesse D. Walling. He then purchased half of the B.F. McLench donation claim, at $2.50 an acre, from B.F. McLench. He then purchased 160 acres of the John A. Swift donation claim, at $2.50 an acre. Later he purchased the east 160 acres of the C.C., Walker donation claim, at $10 an acre, on which he now resides. He purchased other tracts and now owns 960 acres of the rich land of this fine county. It was purchased at a very low figure, but had become greatly enhanced in value. This property was obtained by hard, honest work, and its owner is justly entitled to his success. The farm is grain and stock producing and Mr Winsor has raised as many as 5,000 bushels of grain in one year from his fields. He raises good draft horses and Cotswold sheep. During his thirty-nine years residence in Oregon he has worked hard, made a good record and is richly deserving of his success.

     He was married April 10, 1872, to Miss Mary Caroline Allison, a native of Ontario, Canada. Mr and Mrs Winsor have five children, as follows: John Allison, was run over and killed when seventeen years and six months old; Emma C., William Thomas, Frank Benjamin and Sarah Ann. Mr Winsor is independent in politics, although he inclines toward the Democratic party. He has been Supervisor of Roads in his vicinity, for a number of years, and interests himself in such work. Mrs Winsor is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Hines, H.K., An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1893); pp 838

DEATH CERTIFICATE: 

OSBH DC (Polk County 1912) #760 - Benjamin Windsor, male, farmer, widowed, b. 23 Apr 1832 in England, d. 17 Mar 1912, near Lincoln, at the age of 79 yrs 11 mos 26 days, interment Zena.

OBITUARY: 

BENJAMIN WINDSOR “GOES OVER”
Benjamin Windsor, one of the oldest and most respected residents of Spring Valley, Polk county, and a familiar character on the streets of Salem, died yesterday morning at his home, of pneumonia, at the age 79 years, 10 months and 24 days. He was born in Buckinghamshire, England and came to America in 1852, landing in New York on August 6. He then went to Knox county, Illinois, where he conducted a farm until 1856, and then to St. Louis, where he took passage for California via Panama. He remained in California until 1859, and then came to Orefon, (sic) locating at once at Lincoln, Polk county. Here he began farming; was the owner of 1800 acres of valuable land there at the time of his death.
He was married April 10, 1872, to Miss Mary Caroline Allison, and two daughters survive him, Mrs. Windsor having died three years ago. He attracted considerable attention on Pioneers’ day at the last state fair, as the only person who had attended every state fair since its inception. He was known as a man of progress, and cheerfully lent his assistance for any enterprise that had for its purpose the betterment of the community, whether social, political or religious, and these qualities have won for him a host of friends in the community.
The funeral was held at 2 o’clock today at the Zena church, and interment was had in the Zena cemetery.
Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon) March 18, 1912

WEALTHY RANCHER DIES
Ben Windsor, of Polk County, Suddenly Passes Away.
Salem, Or., March 18—(Special)—Ben Windsor, whose illness suddenly developed a few days ago, died yesterday on his ranch in Polk County, several miles down the Willamette River. He was one of the heaviest land owners in this section of the valley.
He was born in England in 1832, coming to America in 1852. Landing in New York he stayed there a short time and removed to Illinois, where he resided on a farm for three and one-half years. Lured by the gold craze he went to California in 1856. For three years he prospected unsuccessfully and in 1859 he came to Salem. Here he hired out as a farm hand and the money he earned he continually invested in lands until at one time he was owner of 1800 acres. A few years ago he sold about 800 acres of this, retaining 1000 acres along the river bank of the Willamette at the time of his death. His lands are considered among the best in Polk County. His wife died some years ago. He is survived by a son and two daughters. The funeral was held today from Zena. 
Oregonian, The (Portland, Oregon) 19 Mar 1912

INSCRIPTION: 

Benjamin Windsor
Born Apr. 23, 1832
Died Mar. 17, 1912
[shares marker with Mary]

SOURCES: 

Janssen Compilation
Saucy Survey & Photographs
OSBH DC (Polk County 1912) #760 

1860 OR CENSUS (Polk co, FA#228)

1870 OR CENSUS (Polk co, FA#415)

Yamhill Co, Oregon, Marriage Records

1880 OR CENSUS (Polk co, Bethel, ED 102, FA#69)

1900 OR CENSUS (Polk co, Spring Valley, ED 172, FA#5)

1910 OR CENSUS (Polk co, Spring Valley, ED 252, sheet 2A)

Hines, page 838

CJ 18 Mar 1912
Oreg 19 Mar 1912

CONTACTS: 
ROW: VI 1 A4  
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