Harry S. Benton

b. circa 1909, d. 30 November 1928
  • Harry S. Benton was born circa 1909 in New York.
  • Thomas S. Benton and Grace M. Wilson appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 40 Race Street. Other members of the household included Harry S. Benton, Thomas S. Benton Jr., Helen I. Benton and Marion R. Benton.
  • Thomas S. Benton and Grace M. Wilson appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. Other members of the household included Harry S. Benton, Thomas S. Benton Jr., Helen I. Benton, Marion R. Benton, Richard Benton, Wesley E. Benton, Eleanor P. Benton and Hilda G. Benton.
  • Harry S. Benton died on 30 November 1928 in Tonawanda, Erie County, New York.
  • The following appeared on 1 December 1928 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: (Buffalo, Dec. 1) With a picture of a little girl clutched in his left hand and a 45-caliber revolver lying at his feet, the body of nineteen-year-old Harry S. Benton, 111 Beatrice street, was found last night in the truck he had been driving for the past three years and which had been parked in East Park drive north of Esminger road in the town of Tonawanda.
         Although both Medical Examiner Charles E. Long and Police Chief Mang of Tonawanda believe the young man committed suicide, both are conducting investigations and no death certificate will be issued until the enquiries are completed.
         Benton was found by Russell Corrie, an employe of the Town of Tonawanda highway department, who was driving along the lonely road en route home. The body was slumped in the seat of the truck. A revolver with one cartridge discharged was found on the floor. Corrie notified Chief Mang.
         The suicide theory, Chief Mang said, was strengthened when a younger brother of the dead boy said Harry had a revolver similar to the one found on the floor.
         The picture the dead man had in his hand has not yet been identified, so Chief Mang and Medical Examiner Long are not certain what bearing it had in the tragedy.
  • The following appeared in a Buffalo newspaper: Early last Friday evening the dead body of Harry S. Benton of 111 Beatrice street was found in Duthie Bros. auto truck parked on East Park Drive, in the township of Tonawanda.
         Harry was employed by Duthie Bros. for the past three years and always proved to ba an efficient and capable workman.
         Although his death has been somewhat mysterious--we cannot make ourselves believe that it was premeditated. It surely must have been accidental. Harry was known as "Happy" among his associates and did not seem to have a care in the world. During his school days at McKinley he was captain of the track team of which he made a brilliant record.
         The deceased was 19 years of age and only a few years ago he won city-wide recognition as the winner of McKinley Vocational School cross-country race.
  • Last Edited: 5 Dec 2011