Hermiston, Oregon
Pioneer of Union County called to final Rest. Another pioneer of the plains was called to his final rest last week when Benjamin Franklin See passed away after 89 years of sojourn here on this earth.
As a youth he braved the long journey to the west coast and Oregon, with his parents to help build civilization in the Grande Ronde valley in Union County. In later years, about 1865, Mr. See freighted between Umatilla and La Grande enduring the hardships of the trail. He was a true pioneer of this vast western empire.
Benjamin Franklin See was born in Estill County, Kentucky November 26, 1845, and died in Hermiston, Oregon, February 14, 1935 at the age of 89 years, 2 months and 18 days.
He was married in 1865 at Clarinda, Iowa to Nancy Hammock on their way across the plains to Oregon. They located in La Grande where he lived until his wife died in 1913. Then he came to Hermiston and lived with his daughter Mrs. Perry Arthur ever since.
He had eight children five of whom survive him. They are Jefferson See of Stanfield; Francis See and George See of Tacoma, WA. Albert See of La Grande and Mrs. Anna Arthur of Hermiston, He had 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He was a member of the Church of Christ for over 50 years.
The funeral services were conducted at the Prann’s Funeral Parlors Sunday afternoon at 2:30 by C.R. Moore, Minister of the Union Church. The body was shipped to La Grande where it will be buried in the family plot in the Summerville cemetery next to his wife.
Source: Hermiston Herald, February 21, 1935
By: Gary Jaensch