My response to Clint/ Packrat came back rejected. Here is what I have on Benson family.
Benson, Ezra D. (1836-1909). gunsmith. A son of James and Sara (Lewis) Benson, Ezra was born on 12 August 1836. He was a gunsmith at Cranberry SumŽmit, Preston County during most of his adult life. In 1869 he had a brief partnership with A.M. Chidester. The Terra Alta newspaper carried several interesting entries. On 9 September 1887 it reported that Benson had attended a shooting match in the Canaan Valley to try out a new gun he had just made. On 8 NovemŽber 1889 he won a shooting contest at Mount Lake. The tax list of 1881 showed that he owned 30 1/2 acres on the Brandonville Pike valued at $1238 and a quarter-acre lot with a shop valued at $440. Ezra died on 13 July 1909 [tax; Census; family].
Benson, George W. (c.1790-c.1859). gunsmith. Preston County. George was in Preston County in 1820. I think Dale said he died around 1859. Born in the 1790's. George was E.D.'s uncle. Rifle is stamped G.W.B and typical Benson architecture.
Benson, Madison M. (1849-1923). gunsmith. M. M. was born on 10 November 1849, a son of William Benson. In 1880 he was a gunsmith in Grant district, Preston County. From 1880 through 1883 he was a resident of Bruceton MillsHe later moved to Fairmont, Marion County, where he died on 14 April 1923. His death certificate called him a gunsmith. 1880, Grant, Preston County; wife Sarah [Dirs.; Census].
Benson, William (1822- ). farmer and reputed gunŽsmith. There are no public records that prove that William was a gunsmith. Family tradition holds that he was a gun maker as well as farmer. His son Madison was a gunsmith. William lived near Bruceton Mills, Preston County, and was buried at Bruceton Cemetery, but the date of death can no longer be read [tax; family; U.S. Census]. The place where John Kelly lived had been opened out by William Benson,who came from Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia, and is now owned by William M. Smith, who married a daughter of John Kelly's. William Benson came into what is now Preston County about 1795. He was a weaver by trade, and settled on the Smith farm before mentioned, near Beaver Creek or Little Sandy. His children were George, Sarah, Mary, John and James. The last named was born at Winchester in 1792, and was the father of Ezra D. Benson, one of the present magistrates in Portland District. James Benson was a soldier in the War of 1812. The Bensons are all good marksmen, and several of them are skillful gunsmiths. [Wiley, History of Preston County].
