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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of Robert L. BENSON 

[Surnames: BENSON, COUNTERMAN] 

BENSON, ROBERT L. 

    
Of the followers of any of the important trades, no better recommendation is required than the credit of long employment under a reliable management. for 18 years, R. L. Benson has been chief of the Canton Waterworks, and is regarded as having a practical knowledge of complicated machinery as any engineer in the town. The works are a credit to the community and the absolute cleanliness maintained bespeaks the vigilant eye of the Chief Engineer. 
    
Mr. Benson, who is of Southern ancestry and the son of William C. Benson of Virginia, was born in Knox Co., IL, Aug 7, 1847, his family belonging to the pioneer group of Knox County. He acquired a fair education in the common schools. In 1867 he married Ada COUNTERMAN, a native of Pekin, IL and his family has been increased to four, the younger members being Lloyd and Anna B. Mr. Benson, while still quite young, decided that farming wasn't exactly to his liking so he came to Canton in 1874 and learned the trade of engineering. In 1888 he stepped into his present position.