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Ira Benton was born Dec. 4, 1892 on a farm about 1 1/2 miles southeast of Nocona. He was the youngest of ten children born to James Lewis Benton and Sarah Ann Benton.At the age of 14, he left home and went to live with an uncle in Oklahoma, which at that time was still Indian Territory. He worked for his uncle, a farmer and rancher for about a year. The following year he lived with his brother, a farmer, and lived about 30 miles east of Waurika, OK. The following year he moved back to Nocona and lived with his older sister, Maude Walker. Her husband was a rancher and Ira worked for him until he was about 19 years old.
On Aug. 4, 1912, Ira Benton was married to Myrtle Sullivan. They moved to a farm near Ryan, OK and lived there about two years. They moved back to Nocona and Ira worked for the County Commissioner, working on the county roads. He later went to work in a grocery store in Nocona. Ira and Myrtle Benton had two children, a son, Lewis H. Benton born March 16, 1916, and a daughter, LaFreda Ray Benton born Aug. 18, 1921. Both children were born in Nocona.
Ira Benton was awarded a contract to carry the mail from Crosbyton to Roaring Spring and moved his family to Crosbyton in June, 1922. They made the trip from Nocona to Crosbyton in a Model T ford touring car and shipped their household goods by freight. He built a house at 404 S. Crosby Street. Crosbyton and lived there until the day of his death. He carried the mail four years. After his contract was up on the mail route he worked for O.E. Meadow, who was manager of Henn Elevator in Crosbyton until Jan. 1, 1927. On Jan 1, 1927, he went to work in Crosbyton Post Office. Mrs. J. I. Sieber was Postmaster at that time. He worked in the post office until he retired June 30, 1958. After he retired, he bought a travel trailer and he and Myrtle would take the trailer to the Gulf Coast at Aransas Pass and spend the winter. They both enjoyed fishing and spent many happy days there. They would return home to Crosbyton and spend the summer.
Around Dec. 1, 1964 they returned to Crosbyton and had only been home a few days when Myrtle took sick and was admitted to the hospital. She died on Dec. 9, 1964. Ira married Elsie Lee Day in 1965 and they lived together until his death June, 20, 1977. He was buried in Crosbyton Cemetery.
(by Lewis H. Benton)
Source: Crosby County History Book 1876-1977 p. 164.
Source: Adams Funeral Home
Funeral services for Mrs. Myrtle Alice Benton, 71, a resident of Crosbyton since 1922, will be held today Thursday, at First Baptist Church, 3 p.m. Rev. Otis Testerman, pastor, will officiate.Mrs. Benton died at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at Crosbyton Clinic Hospital following a heart attack about noon. She and Mr. Benton had just returned Sunday after spending two months at Aransas Pass.
Born Myrtle Alice Sullivan on April 18, 1893 in Parker Co., she married Ira Benton Aug. 4, 1912, at Nocona. They lived at Ryan, Okla., the first two years of their marriage, then moved back to Nocona. In 1922 Benton took over the star mail route between Crosbyton and Dickens.
Mrs. Benton was employed at the local hospital for a number of years before their retirement.
Since their retirement June 30, 1958, the couple had traveled and fished at Aransas Pass for a portion of each year.
Immediate survivors include her husband, Ira D. Benton; a son, Lewis Benton, Crosbyton; a daughter, Mrs. Rhea Campbell, Crosbyton; a brother, Roy Sullivan, of Electra; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Crosbyton Review, December 10, 1964
Ira Dewitt Benton, a Crosbyton resident since 1922 and a longtime postal employee, was claimed by death about 6:30 a.m. Monday in Methodist Hospital, Lubbock, after a lengthy illness. He had entered the hospital May 28 and had undergone surgery June 1.Mr. Benton was 84.
Memorial services were conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, in the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bobby Rine, pastor, officiating. Interment was made in Crosbyton Cemetery, under direction of Adams Funeral Home.
Mr. Benton was born December 4, 1892 in Montague County. He moved to Crosbyton in 1922 from Montague County.
Prior to his retirement he was a postal employee, serving as an assistant postmaster for 33 years in Crosbyton. Mr. Benton was a member of First Baptist Church in Crosbyton.
He and Elsie Lee Sebring were married September 2, 1965, in Crosbyton.
Mrs. Benton is among survivors. Other survivors include one son, Lewis Benton of Crosbyton; one daughter, Mrs. Freda Campbell of Crosbyton; a stepdaughter, Melba Jean Edwards of Roanoke; four grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
Crosbyton Review, June 23, 1977
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
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