Caleb Benson [RG1575.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1575.AM:  Caleb Benson, 1860-1937

Military records:  1885-1937

Crawford, Dawes County, Nebraska:  Soldier

Size:  Eight items (one folder)

BACKGROUND NOTE

Born at Jacksonville, Florida, on June 24, 1860, Caleb Benson moved with his parents to Charleston, South Carolina when he was six.  After the death of his parents, Benson enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 25, 1875.  He served with the 10^th Cavalry and was stationed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska for a number of years.  Benson participated in various campaigns during the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War and the Philippine American War.  He served in the Army for thirty-one years, retiring in August of 1908.

Benson came to Crawford, Nebraska, on March 24, 1909.  He married Percilla Smith on March 29, 1909.  The couple homesteaded near Glen, Nebraska, in Sioux County.  After ten years, the couple moved to New York City, where they stayed for fourteen years.  They returned to Crawford, Nebraska, in 1934.  Benson made his home in Crawford until his death on November 18, 1937.  Percilla Benson died in 1966.  They are buried in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, Nebraska.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of one folder containing eight items relating to the military service of Caleb Benson.  Included in the collection are three membership cards, a discharge paper, a marksman’s certificate, a Bureau of Pensions information request form, a retirement order and a transportation order.  The items in the collection date from 1885 to 1937.

Note:  See the Group Portraits photo collection for a photo of Caleb Benson [RG2877.PH0-000803].  The Nebraska History Museum holds various artifacts relating to Caleb Benson.  Interested researchers must make an appointment to view artifacts at the museum.

INVENTORY

Item

1. 1. Marksman’s certificate, 1885

1. 1. Discharge paper, 1890

1. 1. Bureau of Pensions information request form, 1904

1. 1. Retirement order, 1908

1. 1. Transportation order, 1908

1. 1. Membership card, United Indian War Veterans, 1932-1933

1. 1. Membership card, United Spanish War Veterans, 1937

1. 1. Membership card, Veterans of Two or More Wars of the United States of America, undated

Subject headings:

African American soldiers

Benson, Caleb, 1860-1937

Indians of North America — Wars

Philippine American War, 1899-1902

Spanish-American War, 1898

Veterans — Nebraska

Revised TMM      08-19-2020