BENJAMIN
A. STOKES
Benjamin A. Stokes
died at his home, near Ridgeville, at 2 o’clock on Monday afternoon.
He was born in Burlington County New Jersey, on the 3d of September 1812, and was at his death, nearly 87 years old. He was the son of William Stokes, who married Hannah Hatcher April 8, 1798. Mr. Stokes was one of twelve children born to William and Hannah Stokes but one now survives – Mrs. Hannah Simonton, of Lebanon.
He removed to his county with his parents in 1817, arriving on the 4th day of July. He has lived in this county and in Clearcreek ever since.
He obtained his education in the log school-house of the pioneers. On the 31st of March, 1841, he was married to Miss Maria Mulford, who was born in Warren county, a daughter of Joseph and Rhoda Mulford.
By this union they had ten children – eight now living. Mr. Stokes’ wife died some six years ago. He was all his life a farmer, but was engaged in other pursuits incidentally. His strong predilection was toward financial matters. He was interested in the National bank at Waynesville, and, after the suspension of the banking house of Boake & Hunt he established at Lebanon the banking establishment of B. A. Stokes & Co., the Lebanon National Bank being the successor of this institution. At the time of his death Mr. Stokes was vice president of and a director in the Lebanon National Bank, and one of its controlling spirits. He became a man of wealth, by reason of his financial ability.
He was a man who never desired office, and yet he was elected justice of the peace, and served nine years, and was a director of the Childrens Home and Orphan Asylum of this county. He was a member throughout his life of the democratic party, and for more than forty years he had been a subscriber to the Cincinnati Daily Enquirer.
In the death of Mr. Stokes Warren county has lost one of its most worthy, intelligent and useful citizens.
His funeral occurred at his home at 1 o’clock in the afternoon of Thursday, and the interment was in Miami Cemetery, at Corwin.