Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas Mrs. Inez Benson Gill Bio

BUTLER COUNTY'S EIGHTY YEARS BIOS

MRS. INEZ BENSON GILL

(Transcribed by Peggy Luce)

Strength of character, dignity, an intense loyalty to family and friends and scintillating wit that made her a delightful companion, were outstanding characteristics of Mrs. Calvin Franklin Gill, whose passing created widespread sorrow.

Born in Butler County forty-five years ago, Inez Minnie Benson was the only daughter of a fine pioneer couple, Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Benson, who helped to build and mold this county and town. Until fifteen years of age, she lived with her parents in a delightful home on the vast Benson ranch northeast of Chelsea, a share of which ranch she possessed and loved always, for the sake of the happy childhood she spent there. When, thirty years ago, Mr. Benson was elected register of deeds and the family moved to the residence on West Central Avenue that has since been its home, the daughter soon became a favorite with a group of girls and boys whose parents also were influential in the upbuilding of this community. Always, in the Benson home, noted for its hospitality and attractive appointments, there were gayety and music and youthful social life.

On through the years --- high school and University of Kansas, into young womanhood, Inez Benson had the normal, carefree life of a girl in a sheltered home – a tranquil happiness marred but twice, as life is inevitably at some time marred, by the deaths of her brother, Harold, and her father. Then, twenty-three years ago, a marriage, the happiness of which was made complete by two children.

There was in Inez Benson Gill a gentleness of breeding, a steadfast adherence to high ideals and a reverence for all that is sacred, that caused her to be generally admired and beloved. During her entire illness, she did not express one wish that was not fulfilled by her husband, mother or children. Every bit of expert medical advice and every climate advised were enlisted to aid in her recovery. The house hold revolved about her. Her friends were thoughtful and solicitous. Every minute that her life could be prolonged was precious to her family. They did not lavish tender care in a spirit of self-sacrifice, but joyously, as though it were a great privilege. For Inez Gill was a woman whose personality and whose whole life as she lived it, inspired such devotion. – J. P. S., January 27, 1934.