Benjamin H. Massie (1854 - 1932)

Born 14 Feb 1854 in Little Indian, Cass, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Elizabeth (Ryman) Massie — married 18 Aug 1878 in Morgan County, Illinois

Descendants

Died 17 Jun 1932 at age 78 in Branson, Taney, Missouri, United States

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Biography

Benjamin Massie was born 14 February 1854 at Little Indian in Cass County, Illinois. He was the son of Alfred Massie and Mathilda Van Zandt. ^{[1] [2]} Benjamin grew up and attended school in Cass County. ^[3]

Marriage & Family

Benjamin married Margaret Elizabeth Ryman 18 August 1878 in Morgan County, Illinois. ^[4] They had two children, both born in Cass County, Illinois:

1. Byron Granville Massie (1879-1924)
2. Ethel (Massie) Withers (1881-1958)

Migration

Sometime in the late 1890s Benjamin moved his family to Missouri, where he began farming in Raymore. ^[5]

In 1910 Benjamin, Margaret and son Byron "came to Liberty [Missouri] and established his farm nearby" Withers Farm, where their daughter Ethel lived with her husband Robert S. Withers. ^{[6] [7]} Benjamin also became “widely known as a dealer in fine horses.” ^{[8] [9]}

After his wife Margaret died in 1928, Benjamin lived with Ethel and Robert Withers on Withers Farm in Liberty, until his death in 1932. ^[10]

Death

Benjamin Massie died of heart failure in 1932 while in Branson, Missouri. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Liberty, Missouri.^[2]

Research Notes

Census Record Summary

Benjamin's Middle Name

No verifiable records have been found that document a full middle name for Benjamin. His middle initial is marked uncertain due to conflicting evidence. Most known sources (his death certificate; his daughter Ethel’s death certificate, where he’s listed as her father; two published obituaries) indicate a middle initial 'H.' His headstone in Fairview Cemetery in Liberty, Missouri reads “Benjamin F. Massie.” Writing in her personal memoirs, Benjamin's granddaughter Margaret Withers Teague says, "Grandpa’s name was Benjamin and he sometimes affected the F. middle initial." ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ 1860 U.S. census, Cass County, Illinois, population schedule, Princeton, page 282, family 2028, Alfred Massey; accessed via "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXH7-K3W : 18 February 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll160 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); Family History Library Film: 803160. Benjamin Massey, age 6, born in Illinois.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} State Board of Health of Missouri, Standard Certificate of Death, State File No. 21731 (stamped), Branson, Taney County, Missouri, B.H. Massie; digital images, Missouri Digital Heritage (https://s1.sos.mo.gov/records/Archives/ArchivesMvc/DeathCertificates : downloaded 24 August 2023). Includes supplemental page with typed note from Ethel Massie Withers to "Mr. Pa Thornhill" [signatory on death certificate] giving birth and death dates for "Mr. B.H. Massie" and his parents.
3. ↑ 1870 U.S. census, Cass County, Illinois, population schedule, Princeton Precinct, page 425 (stamped), family 1, Alfred Massie; accessed via "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M64X-3WV : 29 May 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T132, roll 192 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Benjamin Massie, age 16, male, born in Illinois, attended school.
4. ↑ "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q292-5DVW : 14 February 2020), Benjamin Massie, 1878.
5. ↑ 1900 U.S. census, Cass County, Missouri, population schedule, Raymore Township, Raymore village, sheet no. 1 (penned), family 6, Massie, Benjamin [mid. init. illegible]; accessed via "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3CS-KZT : 11 March 2022), citing NARA microform publication T623, roll 846 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900). Benjamin Massie, Head, age 46, occupation: farmer.
6. ↑ "The Death of B.H. Massie," The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri), 18 June 1932 (Sat.),1932, p. 2, col. 6; digital image, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-obituary-for-h-mass/64269517/ : downloaded 29 November 2020).
7. ↑ 1910 U.S. census, Clay County, Missouri, population schedule, Liberty Ward 4, enumeration district (ED) 26, sheet 13 (penned) B (printed), Benjamin Massie; accessed via "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2TK-8PS : 15 May 2022); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 775 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 775; FHL microfilm 1,374,788. Benjamin Massie, Head, age 56, occupation: stock breeder.
8. ↑ "Horse Owner Dead," St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri), 19 June 1932, p.44, col. 5; digital images, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-horse-owner-dead/14173851/ : originally downloaded 04 October 2017).
9. ↑ 1920 U.S. census, Clay County, Missouri, population schedule, Liberty Township, enumeration district (ED) 29, sheet 1 (penned) B (printed), dwelling 18, family 20, Benjamin Massie; accessed via "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M84F-6MZ : 2 February 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 913 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1920). Benjamin H Massie, age 65.
10. ↑ 1930 U.S. census, Clay County, Missouri, population schedule, Liberty Township, enumeration district (ED) 21, sheet 6 (penned) B (printed), family 142, Robert S Withers; accessed via "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHXV-VP1 : accessed 15 May 2022); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1183 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); FHL microfilm 2,340,918. Benjamin H Massie, age 76, father-in-law.
11. ↑ Julia Margaret (Teague) First, transcriber, “Writings of Margaret Withers Teague, July 29, 1910 – November 10, 1994” (typescript, 1995), p. 57; copy privately held by Teague-1504, 1995.

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #77866896