7th Wisconsin, Company G - Enlisted Men

Peck, Benson   (No known Descendants/Relatives)
Born: Unknown - Died: Unknown * Residence at time of enlistment: Durand, Pepin Co., WI
Enlisted: January 1, 1864, as a Corporal - Absent at Regimental Muster Out: July 3, 1865 (wounds)
WND: May 5, 1864, at Wilderness, VA, and February 6, 1865, at Hatcher's Run, VA

The Marshfield Times, Marshfield, WI, Saturday, March 18, 1882

Accident.

A little boy, son of Benson Peck, living in the town of Richfield, accidentally shot himself on Tuesday last. The wound is quite severe, but not necessarily fatal.

The Marshfield Times, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Saturday, September 23, 1882

TOWN NEWS.

About two weeks ago Mrs. Peck, wife of Benson Peck of Richfield, went out to pick some black berries. She had her pail nearly full when she was startled by approaching footsteps behind her. Turning round a huge, black bear met her gaze. He was coming towards her and was not over ten feet from her when she discovered him. She dropped her berries and started to run, after two or three steps fright relieved her of consciousness and she fell to the ground, striking her head on a small pine log. On regaining her senses she saw Bruin quietly eating her berries and she quietly withdrew and went home. Since this time she has been confined to her bed in consequence of her fright and the injury sustained in her fall, until Thursday evening, when death relieved her of pain. She leaves a husband and many friends.

The Waukesha Freeman, Waukesha, WI, Thursday, October 12, 1882

Wisconsin Items.

Mrs. Benson Peck, of Wood County, was frightened to death by a bear the other day. She was picking berries in the woods near her home, when she heard footsteps, and turning saw a huge black bear coming toward her. She dropped her berries and ran some distance, when she fainted and fell over a pine log. On regaining her senses she saw the bear quietly eating her berries, and managed to slip away without attracting his attention. The shock she had sustained was more than she could bear, however, and after an illness of several days she gradually sank and died.

History of the Greenwood Cemetery

From the History of Greenwood, Wisconsin - 1844-1993, page 71

In the fall of 1870 Lige Eaton sold three acres of land to Eaton township for sixty dollars, to be used as a cemetery. As the land had to be cleared of brush and logs Mr. Eaton hired Herman Schwarze, Anthony Larson, Carl Richelieu and Jake and Bill Bonsil to do the work. Since then more land has been bought and added to the cemetery on the South and the Reverend Mr. Hendren gave a strip of land on the East to make it larger. The cemetery lies on a knoll about a quarter of a mile west of the city near the banks of the Black River. With its pine trees, pretty shrubs, rose bushes, and beautiful flower beds it is one of the prettiest cemeteries in the country. The first sexton was John Booth, others were Bill Hogue, Ed Fahey, Sid Cox, and at present John Paulley. There was already one grave on the land when it was bought for a cemetery, that of Mrs. Charlotte Honeywell who died April 4, 1870. She expressed the wish to be buried on the knoll near Black River and her relatives carried out her wish. There are two stones in the cemetery with earlier dates, but no one is buried under them. These stones were for two Sheldon children who died and were buried in the Hackett field (Stoller's). Later the father purchased headstones and wanted to move the bodies of the children but the graves could not be located, so the stones were set up in the cemetery here anyway. The cemetery was first under the supervision of the town officers and is now under the control of the Cemetery Association which has a charter from the state. The city had no deed until the association was formed, when Al Armstrong went to the town officers and obtained the deed. If the association ever stops functioning the title will revert to the city. The present officers are Charles Varney, president Mr. H. H. Hartson, secretary, and Mrs. A. S. Armstrong, treasurer. By paying the sum of fifty dollars one is assured of the perpetual care of one's lot, otherwise the fee is one dollar and fifty cents a year. This is a wonderful opportunity for those who have moved away and otherwise would have no way of knowing that their lots were taken care of. There is now a large sum on hand for perpetual care and this is loaned to the city.
*Transcribed by Pat Shanks and Sharon Ballman.

Walter Benson Peck is buried in the Greenwood City cemetery in Clark County, Wisconsin.

Greenwood City Cemetery Index
EATON TOWNSHIP, CLARK COUNTY, WI

Sc.*

NAME

LOCATION

BIRTH

da

yr

DEATH

da

yr

SPOUSE

WED

da

yr

PARENTS

NOTES

t

Peck, Hugh

00-C046-01

2

22

1888

c

Peck, Walter Benson

00-C046-02

1823

3

9

1888

Mary Jane

Civil War-Co. G, 7th WI Inf. Capt.

Benson & Mary Jane (Ward) Peck

Benson was born in Whitehall, Washington Co., NY during 1823, the son of Seth Peck.   He served his country twice during the Civil War.  He first enlisted with Co. E, 16th Wis., Inf. and later with Co. G 7th Wis., Inf.  He was shot in the neck at Wilderness, VA, May 5, 1864 and was able to return to duty only to be wounded again 6 Feb 1865 at Dabney’s Mill.  He was shot in the left hand and near the thigh in the back of his right leg muscle.  His hand required amputation below his fist knuckles.  Although his thumb remained it was inflexible and to compensate, he used a specially designed fork. 

Benson Peck’s Special Fork 

Benson married Mary “Jane” Ward (ca. 1831, PA) in Jefferson Co, WI, 29 Dec 1848.  Sixty-five million feet of logs were being sawed annually for shipping down the Yellow River into the Wisconsin River and on to Galena, IL to be sold for $11 per thousand feet.  Nearly every laborer worked at the Saw Mill and Benson was no exception.  He and Jane had 2 children: Ella Ann (Nov 1855, WI, m. John Bishop Rose-div., 2nd m. Ernest Derby) and Hugh Benson (ca. 1873 Lincoln Twp., Wood Co, WI, d. 22 Feb 1888).  When Hugh was 9 yrs. old he accidentally shot himself and was severely wounded.  Later that same year, his mother was frightened to death by a bear while picking berries in the woods near their home.  Hearing footsteps, she turned to see a huge black bear coming toward her.  Dropping her berries, she ran some distance before fainting an falling over a pine log.  After regaining her senses she saw the bear quietly eating her berries and managed to slip away.  The shock was so profound that after several days of illness, she gradually sank and died 21 Sep 1882 failing to celebrate a 52nd birthday.  Benson died 10 Mar 1888 and that summer his marker was ordered from Sheldon & Sons, W. Rutland, VT, 21 Aug 1888.  Both he and Hugh are buried in the Greenwood, WI City Cemetery.

Benson and Jane had two children:

1. Ella M. Peck – Was born November 1855 in Wisconsin and died sometime after 1920. She married John Bishop "Jack" Rose, Jr., and they later divorced and he married Ludovich "Louise" Stafford.  Her only son was named Warren Hilliary Rose. He was three years old at the time of the 1880 census.  She later married Ernest Derby about 1882.

2. Hugh Benson Peck - Was born about 1873 in Lincoln Twp., Wood County, Wisconsin and died February 22, 1888 in Wisconsin.

News Clips

The Marshfield Times, (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Saturday, March 18, 1882

Accident.

A little boy, son of Benson Peck, living in the town of Richfield, accidentally shot himself on Tuesday last. The wound is quite severe, but not necessarily fatal.

 

The Waukesha Freeman, (Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wis.) Thursday, October 12, 1882

Wisconsin Items.

Mrs. Benson Peck, of Wood County, was frightened to death by a bear the other day. She was picking berries in the woods near her home, when she heard footsteps, and turning saw a huge black bear coming toward her. She dropped her berries and ran some distance, when she fainted and fell over a pine log. On regaining her senses she saw the bear quietly eating her berries, and managed to slip away without attracting his attention. The shock she had sustained was more than she could bear, however, and after an illness of several days she gradually sank and died.  

Military Records

Benson Peck, Civil War Soldier

1823 - 1888

Benson Peck was born in 1823.  He enlisted with Co. "G" in the 7th Regiment of the Wisconsin Infantry on January 21st, 1864 serving as a Private.  He died 9 Mar 1888 and was wounded and absent when his regiment was discharged.  He is buried in the Greenwood, Wisconsin City Cemetery.  His daughter who was living in an insane asylum in Chicago was listed as his next of kin on his grave registration.

Source: Wis. Vol. 769 Roster, Vol. 1, p. 564.

7th Wisconsin, Company G - Enlisted Men

Peck, Benson   (No known Descendants/Relatives)
Born: Unknown - Died: Unknown * Residence at time of enlistment: Durand, Pepin Co., WI
Enlisted: January 1, 1864 as a Corporal - Absent at Regimental Muster Out: July 3, 1865 (wounds)
Wounded: May 5, 1864 at Wilderness, VA and February 6, 1865 at Hatcher's Run, VA

Research Notes

Pg. 386, 1881 History of Northern, WI

WILLIAM PECK, engineer and millwright, Necedah, is a native of New York, born in Allegany County in 1827 ; received a common school education, and followed farming until 1845. He then went to Illinois, where he worked at farming during the Summer, and in Winter seasons engaged in lumbering near Watertown, Wis., for two years, when he moved to Jefferson Co., Wis., for about two years, after which he went to Sauk County, settling at Reedsburg, of which place he was one of the first settlers, and was engaged in the manufacture of lumber for about four years, at the end of which time, in March, 1853, he came to Necedah, and was employed in the mill of John Werner for three years, then in the mill of T. Weston & Co. for three years, after which he purchased an interest in a mill, and run the same for three years, at the end of which time he was employed as foreman in the mill of T. Weston & Co. until 1873. the" as foreman in the mill of Bradford, McCoy & Co. until the Spring of 1880. He then spent the Summer in the Dilly Shingle Mill, since which time he has been in the employ of George P. Burch & Co. as engineer and millwright. He was married, in the Fall of 1848, to Eliza S. Ward, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1830. They have six children—Theron, Martha E., Mary, Vernon and Elmer. Mr. Peck is a Republican in politics, and a great joker. The number of "gianthers and crockajoes" he has slain is unknown.