Walter Hayes Benn

1808 - 1868  (60 years)

• Name	Walter Hayes Benn
  Born	1808	, Ireland   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1832	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  Residence	1832	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Residence	1839	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Occupation	1852	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	shoemaker
  Residence	1855	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Occupation	1861	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Inn Keeper
  Residence	1861	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Church of England
  Business	1867	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	Inkerman Inn
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-88956
  Died	3 Feb 1868	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 3, 5, 6]
  Buried	Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Person ID	I88956	Generations
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024

  
  

  Family 1	Agnes Fleming,   b. 1819, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Bef 1855  (Age < 35 years)
  Married	16 Jul 1839	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Children	1. Henry F. Benn,   b. 22 Apr 1840, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Mar 1907  (Age 66 years)   2. John Wesley Benn,   b. 10 Apr 1843, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Walter Hayes Benn,   b. 1844, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F24496	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Elizabeth McConnell,   b. 1823, , Quebec, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	23 Nov 1855	Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F32899	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  The men who took the most prominent part in organizing the first library in the village were: Rev. Dr. Bayne, Alexander Burnet, James Cowan, John Gowinlock, William Trotter, H. G. Barlow, James Harris, Andrew Elliott, Francis McElroy, Francis Hogg, Andrew Moscrip and Walter H. Benn. These men have long since passed away, but they all did good work in their day in laying the foundations of a progressive and moral community; to the older generation of Galtonians their names call up a crowd of memories of the days that are no more. First Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, Berlin 1913, pg 17 __________________ Born in County Kerry, Ireland, came to Galt in 1832. He was a shoemaker, but his first job in Galt was as foreman in James Smith's harness shop. Also operated a hotel on Water St. Galt for a number of years. He was a member of Galt's first debating society and was involved in the library. Cambridge Mosiac, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [snippet from original text in book] ____________________ In our obituary of today will be found a name that for many years past has been a "household word" in Galt. Walter H. Benn departed this life on Monday last, at half-past 3 o'clock. Mr. Benn had for some time past been in but indifferent health, so that his demise was not unexpected. He was aged 58 years. The subject of this notice was an Irishman by birth, and came to Galt in the year 1832. Naturally of a quick and active mind, he soon took quite a position in the growing village he had selected as his future residence; and there are but very few in our midst but what have on some occasion or other paid tribute to "Walter's" eloquence, his strong flashes of wit, his great fund of anecdote, and the rich quotations with which he could always embellish any theme upon which he was speaking. His natural abilities were of a very high order, and he possessed a most retentive memory and fine flow of language. His abilities, indeed, fitted him for a much higher position than he occupied; and there can be no doubt, had he enjoyed the blessings of education, that he would have filled a much more prominent position than fell to his lot in our midst. And now, in closing this brief notice of his removal from amongst us, let us treat his failings as we have all to hope that ours will be treated, and think of him only as the light-hearted, witty, rollicking Walter Benn of the days that are now past never more to return. One by one the connecting links between the present and the past are being severed; the death of Mr. Benn will leave a blank in our town that will perhaps never again be filled. Galt Reporter Feb 7 1868 pg 2

  
  

• Sources

  [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 13 Feb 1868. Walter H. Benn died 3 Feb 1868 in Galt, 58 yrs. [S313] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1851, Div 1 Pg 14. Walter H. BEEN? Shoemaker Ireland Episcopalian 45 Agness BEEN? Canada Methodist 32 Henry BEEN? Shoemaker Canada Episcopalian 12 John BEEN? Shoemaker Canada Episcopalian 10 Walter BEEN? Shoemaker Canada Episcopalian 7 Robert CAMBEL Shoemaker Ireland Presbyterian 28 not a member of the family Martin BRICHNBURGH? Shoemaker Germany Roman Catholic 25 not a member of the family James OBRIAN Shoemaker Ireland Roman Catholic 15 not a member of the family Mary CARMADY Spinster Ireland Roman Catholic 34 not a member of the family (widowed) James BAIRD Labourer Ireland Presbyterian 45 not a member of the family Jennet BAIRD Spinster Ireland Presbyterian 40 not a member of the family Adam BAIRD Labourer USA Presbyterian 9 not a member of the family David MELVIN Shoemaker Ireland Roman Catholic 24 not a member of the family [S118] News - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo - Waterloo Chronicle, 06 Feb 1868. Benn, Walter Hayes died 03 Feb 1868 Mr. Benn of Galt, aged 58 years. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 2 Page 24. [S505] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican (Galt) CC#4497 Internet Link . Sacred/ to the memory of/ Walter Hays Benn/ a native of Co. Kerry/ Ireland/ and resident of Galt 36 yrs./ who departed this life/ Febr'y 3rd 1868;/ aged 59 y'rs/ May his soul rest in peace amen/ (verse) [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 5 Feb 1868. Benn, Walter Hayes died 3 Feb 1868 Aged 58 years. Came to Galt in 1832. (Interesting obituary.) [S9] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Canada Museum und Allgemeine Zeitung (1835-1840), 3 Aug 1839:31. 16 Jul 1839 In Preston, Rev H. Montgomery m. Walter H. Benn, of Dumfries, to Miss Agnes Flemming, of Waterloo. [S313] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1851, Div 1 Pg 14. [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 28 Nov 1855. BEHN, Walter H. married 23 Nov 1855 to Eliza McCONNELL By Rev J J Braine, of the Independent Church, Guelph. Walter of Galt; Eliza of Guelph Township. [S1668] Directory - ON, Waterloo - 1867 - Gazetteer and directory of the County of Waterloo. 1867. Benn, Walter H. Place: Galt, Street: N. W., Occ. or Comments: prop., Inkerman Inn, Pg: 90

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1808 - , Ireland Residence - 1832 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1832 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1839 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 16 Jul 1839 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - shoemaker - 1852 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1855 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 23 Nov 1855 - Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - Inn Keeper - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of England - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Business - Inkerman Inn - 1867 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 3 Feb 1868 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth