OBITUARY
Ben K. Hersey
Funeral services were held at 1:30 o'clock Friday, November 16 at the Ritchey Baptist Church for Ben K. Hersey, age 82, who passed away at his home in Ritchey, Missouri, Tuesday. Services were conducted by Rev. John V. Philliber and burial was in the Newtonia I.O.O.F. Cemetery, under the direction of Pogue Funeral Home.
Mr. Hersey was a faithful member of Ritchey Baptist Church for fifty years or more and was the eldest deacon of the church at the time of his demise. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Hersey, three daughters, Mrs. Loraine Barbee, Portland, Oregon, Mrs. Ruth Largen and Miss Rhoda Hersey, Kansas City; two sons, Oscar Hersey, Granby, and B.K. Hersey, Jr., Kansas City; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Source: Local Newspaper, Neosho, Newton County, Mo. Nov. 17, 1951
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Benjamin K Hersey raised his family on a farm just outside of Ritchey, Newton County, in southwest Missouri. Raising primarily apples, rhubarb & tomatoes and other truck farming crops which were sold in the city market at Kansas City, Missouri and other places. They also raised some cattle. He was an active member of the Ritchey Baptist Church. His daughter Rhoda Hersey stated, "All Papa knew was work and church." Shortly before his death Ben and his wife, Elizabeth, moved to town, into the house beside the Ritchey Baptist Church. After his death, Elizabeth continued to reside there for the remainder of her life. Ben Hersey is buried at IOOF Newtonia Cemetery, Newtonia, Newton County, Missouri.
Source: Personal knowledge of Bennetta Hersey Elliott as related to her by Basil Kermit Hersey, son of the above Ben Hersey.
1880 US Federal Census - Missouri
Name: Benjam HERSEY
Age: 10
Estimated birth year: <1870>
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation: SSon
Home in 1880: Van Buren, Newton, Missouri
Marital status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Head of household: Wilson BRANHAM
Father's birthplace: ---
Mother's birthplace: ---
Image Source: Year: 1880; Census Place: Van Buren, Newton, Missouri; Roll: T9_705; Family History Film: 1254705; Page: 411C; Enumeration District: 99; Image: 0827.
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Besides Benjamin Hersey it appears that the following are listed in the household:
Name: Wilson BRANHAM
Age: 63
Estimated birth year: <1817>
Birthplace: Tennessee
Occupation: Farmer
Relation: Self
Home in 1880: Van Buren, Newton, Missouri
Marital status: Widower
Race: White
Gender: Male
Head of household: Wilson BRANHAM
Birthplace: Tenn.
Father's birthplace: N.C.
Mother's birthplace: N.C.
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Name: Nancy White,
Age: 70
Relation: Sister
Occupation: Keeping House
Birthplace: N.C.
Father's birthplace: N.C.
Mother's birthplace: N.C.
1910 US Federal Census - Missouri
Name: HERSEY BEN K
Relationship: Head
Age: 40
Sex: M
Race: W
Birth Place: MISSOURI
Father's Birth Place: UNKNOWN
Mother's Birth Place: UNKNOWN
State: MO
County: NEWTON
TWP: VAN BUREN
Year: 1910
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Ben K Hersey - head - 40
Lizzie - wife - 32 Birth Place - Kentucky
Lorane - dau - 12
Ruth - dau - 8
Oscar - son - 6
Rhoda - dau - 3
(All children born in Missouri)
1920 Missouri Federal Census
Name: Ben K Hersey
Age: 50 years
Estimated birth year: 1869
Birthplace: Missouri
Race: White
Home in 1920: Van Buren, Newton, Missouri
Home owned: Yes
Sex: M
Marital status: Married
Able to read & write: Yes
Roll: T625_937
Page: 7A
ED: 134
Image: 0550
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Ben K Hersey - Head - 50
Lizzie - wife - 48
Ruth - dau - 18
Oscar - son - 16
Rhoda - dau- ?
Basil K - son - 5
Leroy Hazel - mother-in-law - 66 - widow
1930 US Federal Census - Missouri
Name: Benjamin K Hersey
Age: 60 years
Estimated birth year: 1869
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head-of-house: Head
Race: White
Home in 1930: Van Buren, Newton, Missouri
Image Source: US Federal Census
Year: 1930
Census Place: Van Buren, Newton, Missouri
Roll: T626_1214
Page: 14A
Enumeration District: 25
Image: 1122
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Benjamin K Hersey - Head - 60
Pricella L. - wife - 53
Oscar M. - son - 26
Vivian - daughter-in-law - 21
Donald L. grandson - 1 6/12
Basil K. - son - 16
Leroy Hazel - mother-in-law - 77
George Gradle - border - 39
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1860 US Federal Census - Missouri
Name: Wilson Branham
Age in 1860: 40
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1860: Pineville, McDonald, Missouri
Gender: Male
Roll: M653_633
Page: 0
Year: 1860
Head of Household: Wilson Branham
Following Members In Household:
Wilson Branham - 40 - Farmer
Matilda Branham - 40
Mary - 12
Elizabeth - 10
Nancy A. - 8
Luke W. - 6
Joseph N. - 4
John P. - 3
Martha Williams - 1
Mary or Elizabeth may be the mother of Benjamin K Hersey almost 10 years later. See 1870 Missouri Census above with Wilson Branham as head of household and Benjamin Hersey age 10 living in household. He was related to as Step-son.
One of Wilson Branham's daughters may have been the mother of Benjamin or a close relative was. Family tradition relates that Benjamin was the son of Judge Benjamin K Hersey of Granby Missouri. His mother was a servant of the Judge. Benjamin's parents were never married and later his mother abandoned him, leaving him with relatives with the pretence that she would be running a few errands. She never returned. He was raised by those relatives. All of this was a great source of pain to him and he didn't talk about it, even with his immediate family later in life.
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