Dear Delmarva Rooters, Following are transcriptions recently drawn from Chicago, Illinois newspapers concerning some of my Delaware ancestors/cousins. My great-great grandparents, Joseph W. & Lurana M. BENSON WHARTON moved to Illinois from the area of Laurel, Sussex County [listed as the "Eleventh Subdivision" in the 1850 U. S. Census], Delaware in the early 1850s. They wound up in Chicago by about 1857. At least one of Lurana's siblings, a brother, Francis H. Benson, also seems to have moved from Delaware to the Chicago area roughly during this period, along with perhaps their mother (and who knows who else??!!). I'd love to hear from anyone who thinks they might be related to these WHARTON and/or BENSON folks, or who might have additional information about them. Dave K __________________ The Chicago Daily Tribune November 27, 1898 pg 6 BENSON November 25, 1898 Francis Henry Benson, beloved father of William E. and Frank A. Benson. Funeral Sunday, Nov. 27 2 p.m. from the residence of F. A. Benson 421 Belden Ave. [I believe this Francis Henry Benson is the brother of my gg-grandmother, Lurana Benson Wharton.] ________________ The Chicago Tribune August 29, 1867 page 4 At Marquette, Mich. August 26 Charles (H.) Benson, son of F.H. and Caroline R. Benson age (19) years. Funeral at Rosehill today (Thursday). Cars leave the Chicago and Milwaukee depot at 1:30 p.m. returning at 2:30 p.m. Friends of the deceased and of his family are invited to attend without further notice. [I am not sure how this Charles H. Benson might fit in. He seems like he might be a fourth child of Francis Henry & Carrie Benson. Francis was a brother to my gg-grandmother, Lurana Benson Wharton.] _________________ The Chicago Tribune October 16, 1865 page 4 In this city, Oct 14 1865 at the residence of her son-in-law F. H. Benson, MRS. ELIZABETH BENSON, age (68) years. The funeral will take place tomorrow (Monday) at 10 o'clock a.m. from (245) North LaSalle Street. [This would seem to be the mother (not mother-in-law) of Francis Benson and Lurana Benson Wharton. I don't know Elizabeth's maiden family name.] __________________ The Chicago Daily Tribune July 23, 1922 page 9 WHARTON Charles Henry Wharton, at Whitewater, Wisc. July 20, 1922; born Laurel Dec 1849; fond husband of Louise Wharton née Woodbury, fond father of Mrs. Clara Moltzner, Belle, Fred, Mrs. Nellie McCorkell and Ralph. Burial at Whitewater, Wisc. Saturday July 22 2 p.m. [Charles Henry Wharton is my great-grandfather. He was born in Sussex County, Delaware not long before the family's move to Illinois.] _________________ The Chicago Daily Tribune March 21, 1888 page 8 WHARTON Tuesday morning at Rogers Park, Mrs. J.W. Wharton, age 58 years. [This is Lurana Benson Wharton, my great-great grandmother.] ___________________ The Chicago Daily Tribune September 12, 1895 MCGRATH Sept 11; age 44; Annie F., wife of James McGrath and sister of Charles H., William N., George, John and Frank Wharton and Mrs. A. J. (Heckler) of Rogers Park. Funeral from the late residence (1690) Wolcott st. Friday Sept 13 at 2 p.m. to Rosehill Cemetery. [Ths is Anna "Annie" Frances Wharton McGrath, sister to my great-grandfather Charles Henry Wharton. I am not entirely clear on the birthplaces of Annie and her siblings born over the first years of the 1850s, but I believe she was the first child of her parents born after their move to Illinois.] ___________________ # # # # #