Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 529.
 
 HON. HENRY L. BENSON

    Judge Henry L. Benson since 1915 has occupied the bench of the supreme
court.  He was born in Stockton, California, in 1854, a son of the Rev. Henry C.
Benson, a native of Ohio. The father became a minister of the Methodist church
and in 1852 went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He had married
Matilda M. Williamson, a native of Kentucky, and both passed away at San Jose,
California, his demise occurring in 1897, while his wife was called to her final
rest in 1903. They became the parents of a large family, nine children reaching
mature years. Hon. Frank W. Benson, the brother of the subject of this review,
was for many years a leading figure in public affairs of Oregon, serving as
secretary of state and later being governor.
    Henry L. Benson acquired his professional education in the University of the
Pacific at Santa Clara, California, and was admitted to the bar in San Francisco
in 1878. For two years he followed his profession at San Jose and in 1880 came
to Douglas county, Oregon. Locating for practice at Grants Pass in 1892, he
there remained until 1898, having in 1896 been elected a member of the state
legislature from the first district and serving during the session of 1897. In
the following year he was elected circuit judge of the first district, which
position he filled until 1915, and while residing in Grants Pass he had been
called to the office of district attorney, acting in that capacity from 1892
until 1896.
    In 1876 Judge Benson was united in marriage to Miss Susie E. Dougharty, a
native of Contra Costa county, California, and they have become the parents of
five children.
 
 
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.