Benton, Byron

Benton, Byron a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church South, was born in Caldwell County, Ky., Dec. 18, 1812. He removed to Port Gibson, Miss., in 1820, and was converted there in 1827. He was a printer by trade, and assisted in publishing the Mississippi Christian Herald, at Natchez, and at the same time was editor and proprietor of the Natchez Courier. In 1837 he published the Southron, at Port Gibson. In 1838 he was licensed to preach and admitted into the Mississippi Conference. In its active ranks he travelled until 1842, when, on account of ill-health, he located. In 1845 he re-entered the conference, and remained as faithful as health would admit until his sudden death, June 28, 1851. Mr. Benton was a pure man, zealous, devoted, unostentatious, generous, and much beloved. See Minutes of Annual Conferences of the M. E. Church South, 1851, p. 363.