Joseph "Jehu" Benns
Jehu Benns first married Mary Ann Gibson on or about 5 Feb 1870 according to Madison Co., TN marriage license listed under John Behns. Checking signatures with his aunt's estate papers confirms identity. Jehu and Mary move shortly after marriage to SE Missouri where George H. and Sallie are born in 1871 and 1873. George goes on to marry Cora Mae Williams, while a marriage license in Lake Co., TN marks the marriage of a Sallie Bins to one Edward M. Heath on 31 Dec 1890. Edward would be a widower by the 1900 census. Lake Co., TN is where George and Sallie are found in the family of W. P. Weir and his wife N.E., listed as nephew and niece. W.P.'s wife is Nancy E. Gibson, older sister of Mary Ann Gibson, both children of Stephen Gibson and Mary Henson of Hardeman Co., TN. Mary Ann dies probably after 1873 and the children are sent off to stay with their Aunt Nancy. Jehu meanwhile ends up in Montague Co., Texas by 1884 and probably married an Amanda K. Dennis, having one son, William Elder Benns. Amanda Benns passes away 26 Feb 1918 in Wetumka, Hughes, Oklahoma, while Jehu moves to Arizona and California with his son William. Jehu, known in later life as Hugh Benns, dies on 18 Sep 1936 in Long Beach, Los Angeles, CA from complications from a fractured hip and scapula suffered in a fall at home, 2072 Cedar Ave.