Arthur S. Benton

ARTHUR S. BENTON. - In connection with his business as a member of the prominent real estate and insurance firm of Merriam, Ellis & Benton, Arthur S. Benton has been an important and influential factor in forwarding all movements projected for progress and improvement at Kansas City, Kansas, where he has resided since 1899.

Arthur S. Benton was born in DeWitt county, Illinois, on the 4th of March, 1864, and he is a son of William and Ellen J. (King) Benton, both of whom are now deceased. The parents were natives of Ohio and the father was summoned to eternal rest in 1864, at the age of forty, the mother having passed away in 1888, at the age of sixty-six. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Benton, Arthur S. was the youngest and he is the only one surviving at the present time, in 1911. William Benton devoted the major portion of his active business career to milling enterprises in DeWitt county, Illinois. He was a staunch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor in his political convictions and was a loyal and public spirited American in all matters of national import.

After completing a good common school education in his native place Arthur S. Benton was matriculated as a student in Baker University, at Baldwin, Kansas, attending that institution for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he turned his attention to teaching. In 1886 he engaged in the general merchandise and grain business at Pomona, in Franklin county, Kansas, remaining there until the spring of 1899, at which time he came to Kansas City, where he has since resided and where he is now engaged in the real estate and insurance business. In connection with this field of endeavor he is associated with Messrs. Merriam and Ellis, under the firm name of Merriam, Ellis & Benton, one of the best known concerns of its kind in the city.

On the 10th of July, 1888, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Benton to Miss Gertrude Burtner, who was born in Muscatine, Iowa, and who is a daughter of Reuben and Mary A. Burtner. Mr. Burtner was long manager for the Moline Plow Company in Kansas City, Missouri, and later he was engaged in the machinery business at East Chicago, Illinois. Subsequently he resided for a time at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and thence he removed to Kansas City, Kansas, where he conducted a machinery enterprise for a period of ten years prior to his demise, which occurred on the 26th of November, 1910. His cherished and devoted wife was called to eternal rest in 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Benton are the fond parents of three children, namely: Russell, Eunice and Willard, all of whom remain at the parental home.

In politics Mr. Benton accords an unswerving allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and while he has never aspired for political honors of any description he is ever ready to give of his aid and influence in support of all movements projected for the general welfare. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with Lodge No. 3, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and with Lodge No. 440, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is exceedingly well known as a business man of unquestioned integrity and as a citizen is everywhere accorded the unalloyed regard of his fellow men.