This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/BUB.2ACI/6072 Message Board Post: JOHN A. BENJAMIN No date The death of John A. BENJAMIN, 62, Rushford mortician, occurred suddenly when he was stricken with a heart attack while officiating at burial rites at the Alger Cemetery. It removes one of northern Allegany County's most prominent citizens. Mr. BENJAMIN collapsed as he was assisting in unloading the casket and was taken to the Fillmore Hospital in his funeral car, and was pronounced dead upon his arrival. Funeral services will be held at his home, the Masonic Lodge of which he was a member, performing the final rites. Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Catherine, of Rushford. Mr. BENJAMIN, member of a family settling in Rushford in 1815, was born there July 4, 1877, son of James G. and Imogene KINGSBURY BENJAMIN. He was educated in Rushford schools and entered the office of the Rushford Spectator, the local weekly newspaper, where he remained for 14 years. Thirty-eight years ago he became associated with a brother, William F. BENJAMIN, in the undertaking and furniture business in Rushford and has conducted the business himself since 1922. Mr. BENJAMIN was prominent in the Masonic Order, holding membership in Joseph Enos Lodge of which he was a Past Master; Olean Lodge of Perfection, Olean; Buffalo Consistory, and Past District Deputy of the Allegany Masonic District, past president of the Past Master's Association of the Allegany Masonic District. He was past president of the Allegany County Funeral Director's Association, also holding membership in the state and national organizations. He was once president of the Allegany County YMCA, now defunct. In 1937 he was secretary-treasurer of the Genesee Country Association and at the time of his death he was a member of the Allegany County Park Commission. [Northern Allegany Observer obituary, transcribed by Louise Y. Mills, 2003, from Cora Lahr's scrapbooks, Fillmore, NY]