J. B. Benefiel, proprietor Boss Meat Market, Mattoon; was born in Oaktown, Knox Co., Ind., April 22, 1847; his father was a physician and a man of far more than ordinary ability; J. B. passed his early life in attendance upon school; in 1861, his father came with his family to Mattoon, Ill.; here he entered upon the practice of his profession and succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice; young Benefiel entered the graded schools of the city, designing to complete the course, preparatory to entering the law department of Michigan University; his father having become involved in professional difficulty in 1867, precipitately fled the country, abandoning his family, and under an assumed name has lived in Craig, Mo., ever since; very recently he has been discovered, and has partially made restitution to his family for past neglect; on the desertion of his father, the cares of the family devolved upon the hands of J. B., the eldest of the children; abandoning his studies, he applied himself to the support of his mother and the younger members of the family; in August, 1867, he entered the employ of the Merchants’ Union Express Co., and, in the spring of 1868′ that of the American Express Co; he was thus employed about three years; in 1871, he entered the employ of J. T. Southern in buying and shipping grain and in the sale of agricultural implements; in the fall of 1873, he engaged in the manufacture of soap in company with J. P. Clark; in 1875, he began his present business, and has since continued it. He was married Jan. 21, 1874, to Ellen F. Aldridge, a native of Arkansas; has had one child-Roy M., born Nov. 26, 1874, died Feb. 15, 1877. Owns real estate in the city.
