Wendell Benster

Wendell Benster was born in New York State around the year 1812. Not too much is known about his early life. He married Jane Giles, who was a native of England sometime prior to 1839. Likewise he must have moved the family to Michigan prior to 1840. Three of his sons survived to adulthood. At least one, possibly two of them would serve with him in the Twenty-fourth Michigan. He initially settled in Wayne County, but at some point the family moved to the small community of Ash in nearby Monroe County.

According to his son Menzo's biography (written in 1915) Wendell Benster was a contractor, and was awarded several railroad contracts (including some for the Michigan Central Railroad). Like many of his contemporaries he was a farmer in addition to his other activities, and seems to have been fairly successful. In 1861 he turned control of the sawmill over to his three sons. This may have been a bad decision, since the sawmill was destroyed in a fire only three months later.

Lumber was a valuable and plentiful commodity in Michigan' early days. Wendell owned and operated a sawmill and this may explain his connection with Edwin B. Wight, Captain of Company A, who was also involved in the lumber business. The State Adjutant General indicates that he listed his occupation as "Millwright".

Wendell Benster enlisted in Company A as 3rd Sergeant on July 26, 1862 at Detroit. He was 50 years old, which might account, in part, for his appointment as Sergeant. One of his sons Menzo enlisted the same company as a corporal. Solomon Benster, also of Ash, also enlisted in Company A; he was probably one of Wendell's other sons. Company A was mustered into service on August 13, 1862.

Wendell Benster did not serve with the Regiment for long. The rigors of field service and possibly "camp sickness" took their toll on him, and he spent a great deal of time in hospital. He was discharged on December 22, 1862. According to Menzo's Biography, Wendell Benster died on his way home, as the result of exposure and hardships which he had endured at the front.

His widow, Jane survived him, passing away in 1895, at the age of eighty-four years.

Some of the information on this page comes from the biography of Menzo M. Benster, which has been made available courtesy of Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.