Mary Benton was born on January 15, 1871, the daughter of Richard Benton and Fannie Sawyer, in Dyersburg, Tennessee, USA. Both Mary's parents were ex-slaves, and farm laborers on the land of Thomas H. Benton of Dyersburg. Mary had three younger siblings, Joseph, Lulia, and Julia.
When Thomas H. Benton died in 1884, Mary's paternal grandfather Clem Benton received land from him. Recent DNA evidence suggests that Clem and Thomas were half-brothers, both being sons of Nathainel Benton who came to Dyer County in the early 1810's around the time of Clem's birth. When Clem died in 1889, the land was split between his wife, two children, and four grandchildren. During her adult years Mary not only did farm laboring but practiced as a midwife in Dyer and Lauderdale County.
On April 19, 1893, Mary had a son named Richard Ellis Douglas, whose father was S.D. Douglas. In 1896, Josheph died aged 21, and split his share of the land with his mother and three sisters. On March 20, 1900, Mary married John Soward in Lauderdale County, Tennessee. John (eleven years Mary's senior) was an ex-slave and widower with five children. Mary and John resided on the land of Samuel "Sam" Rucker in Halls, Tennessee. There they had a daughter, Fannie Equilla Soward, born December 1, 1900.
John and Mary had three more children who died in infancy. Eventually Mary wished to move back to her land in Dyer County, and she did along with her daughter Equilla. John purchased land in Lauderdale County where he and his children resided during the week, and he would come to Dyer County on the weekends.
By the 1910's, Fannie, Julia and Eliza Ann Benton (Richard's sister) had died, and Mary purchased the interests of her father, stepmother, half -brother Clem, and sister Lulia. Mary and her husband John divorced in 1916. For the next twenty years Mary continued to work the land and practice as a midwife until her death on November 23, 1936.
When Thomas H. Benton died in 1884, Mary's paternal grandfather Clem Benton received land from him. Recent DNA evidence suggests that Clem and Thomas were half-brothers, both being sons of Nathainel Benton who came to Dyer County in the early 1810's around the time of Clem's birth. When Clem died in 1889, the land was split between his wife, two children, and four grandchildren. During her adult years Mary not only did farm laboring but practiced as a midwife in Dyer and Lauderdale County.
On April 19, 1893, Mary had a son named Richard Ellis Douglas, whose father was S.D. Douglas. In 1896, Josheph died aged 21, and split his share of the land with his mother and three sisters. On March 20, 1900, Mary married John Soward in Lauderdale County, Tennessee. John (eleven years Mary's senior) was an ex-slave and widower with five children. Mary and John resided on the land of Samuel "Sam" Rucker in Halls, Tennessee. There they had a daughter, Fannie Equilla Soward, born December 1, 1900.
John and Mary had three more children who died in infancy. Eventually Mary wished to move back to her land in Dyer County, and she did along with her daughter Equilla. John purchased land in Lauderdale County where he and his children resided during the week, and he would come to Dyer County on the weekends.
By the 1910's, Fannie, Julia and Eliza Ann Benton (Richard's sister) had died, and Mary purchased the interests of her father, stepmother, half -brother Clem, and sister Lulia. Mary and her husband John divorced in 1916. For the next twenty years Mary continued to work the land and practice as a midwife until her death on November 23, 1936.
Mary Benton was born on January 15, 1871, the daughter of Richard Benton and Fannie Sawyer, in Dyersburg, Tennessee, USA. Both Mary's parents were ex-slaves, and farm laborers on the land of Thomas H. Benton of Dyersburg. Mary had three younger siblings, Joseph, Lulia, and Julia.
When Thomas H. Benton died in 1884, Mary's paternal grandfather Clem Benton received land from him. Recent DNA evidence suggests that Clem and Thomas were half-brothers, both being sons of Nathainel Benton who came to Dyer County in the early 1810's around the time of Clem's birth. When Clem died in 1889, the land was split between his wife, two children, and four grandchildren. During her adult years Mary not only did farm laboring but practiced as a midwife in Dyer and Lauderdale County.
On April 19, 1893, Mary had a son named Richard Ellis Douglas, whose father was S.D. Douglas. In 1896, Josheph died aged 21, and split his share of the land with his mother and three sisters. On March 20, 1900, Mary married John Soward in Lauderdale County, Tennessee. John (eleven years Mary's senior) was an ex-slave and widower with five children. Mary and John resided on the land of Samuel "Sam" Rucker in Halls, Tennessee. There they had a daughter, Fannie Equilla Soward, born December 1, 1900.
John and Mary had three more children who died in infancy. Eventually Mary wished to move back to her land in Dyer County, and she did along with her daughter Equilla. John purchased land in Lauderdale County where he and his children resided during the week, and he would come to Dyer County on the weekends.
By the 1910's, Fannie, Julia and Eliza Ann Benton (Richard's sister) had died, and Mary purchased the interests of her father, stepmother, half -brother Clem, and sister Lulia. Mary and her husband John divorced in 1916. For the next twenty years Mary continued to work the land and practice as a midwife until her death on November 23, 1936.
When Thomas H. Benton died in 1884, Mary's paternal grandfather Clem Benton received land from him. Recent DNA evidence suggests that Clem and Thomas were half-brothers, both being sons of Nathainel Benton who came to Dyer County in the early 1810's around the time of Clem's birth. When Clem died in 1889, the land was split between his wife, two children, and four grandchildren. During her adult years Mary not only did farm laboring but practiced as a midwife in Dyer and Lauderdale County.
On April 19, 1893, Mary had a son named Richard Ellis Douglas, whose father was S.D. Douglas. In 1896, Josheph died aged 21, and split his share of the land with his mother and three sisters. On March 20, 1900, Mary married John Soward in Lauderdale County, Tennessee. John (eleven years Mary's senior) was an ex-slave and widower with five children. Mary and John resided on the land of Samuel "Sam" Rucker in Halls, Tennessee. There they had a daughter, Fannie Equilla Soward, born December 1, 1900.
John and Mary had three more children who died in infancy. Eventually Mary wished to move back to her land in Dyer County, and she did along with her daughter Equilla. John purchased land in Lauderdale County where he and his children resided during the week, and he would come to Dyer County on the weekends.
By the 1910's, Fannie, Julia and Eliza Ann Benton (Richard's sister) had died, and Mary purchased the interests of her father, stepmother, half -brother Clem, and sister Lulia. Mary and her husband John divorced in 1916. For the next twenty years Mary continued to work the land and practice as a midwife until her death on November 23, 1936.
Gravesite Details
Mary is buried at the farm, but her gravestone is covered in dirt and currently can't be located.
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