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Simeon Benjamin
Simeon Benjamin (May 29, 1792 – September 1, 1868) was a businessman, philanthropist, and founder of Elmira College. Early yearsSimeon Benjamin was born on May 29, 1792, in Upper Aquebogue, in the Town of Riverhead, New York on Long Island.[1][2] He was the third of eight children.[2] Because Benjamin was considered a feeble child, he was allowed experience working as a clerk in a country store in Aquebogue.[2] At age 16, he clerked for two years in a store on Broadway in New York City, then at the start of the War of 1812 returned to Aquebogue to open his own dry goods store there.[2] Benjamin prospered during the war, as his location in Riverhead enabled his store to avoid the blockade that otherwise prevented goods from reaching New York.[2] After the conclusion of the War of 1812, Benjamin returned to New York City where he operated a successful dry goods store at 371 Pearl Street for 20 years.[1] Elmira yearsBenjamin, having made a fortune in New York, moved to Elmira, New York in 1835 and began buying up real estate in town.[1][2] Benjamin's fortune grew as Elmira expanded.[2] Benjamin built churches, schools, and hotels in town, and helped establish a railroad connection between Elmira and Seneca Lake.[2] He later became president of the Chemung Railroad, vice president of the Elmira Rolling Mills Company, and president of the Bank of Chemung and the First National Bank.[1] His wealth grew so considerable that he was considered for many years to be the wealthiest person in Chemung County.[3] During his entire time in Elmira, Benjamin lived at 500 Lake Street, at the corner of East Third Street. At the time it was considered "well out in the country."[4] Benjamin was active for 30 years in Elmira's First Presbyterian Church; he was a trustee of the church, and became an elder in 1836.[1][2] PhilanthropyElmira College When plans to charter a women's college in Auburn, New York ran into financial difficulty, Benjamin pledged $5,000 to transfer the charter to Elmira. Benjamin became treasurer and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the new Elmira Female College.[1] Elmira College was founded to be "a real college for women which shall be higher and better than any female institution in the country."[1] Benjamin selected the college's location on Prospect Hill, and it opened there on October 2, 1855, with 242 students.[1] Benjamin's total contribution to Elmira College over the course of his life and his will totaled $80,000.[1][2] Other worksBenjamin's charitable work extended beyond Elmira college. He donated $10,000 during his lifetime, and bequested $20,000 in his will, to Hamilton College, where he was a trustee.[2] He was also a trustee of Auburn Theological Seminary, to which he donated $10,000.[2] He also gave $2000 to the Elmira Orphan Asylum.[2] Records indicate that Simeon Benjamin attended anti-slavery meetings.[5] He also provided support in the form of "food, clothing, and cash"[6] to the anti-slavery movement through the work of John W. Jones, a former slave who was Elmira's main "agent" of the Underground Railroad.[7][8][5] Personal lifeBenjamin was widely active in Presbyterian Churches in Aquebogue, Brooklyn, and Elmira.[2] He supported the Temperance movement and abolition, and he had connections to the Underground Railroad.[1] Benjamin married Sarah Wickham Goldsmith, of Mattituck, New York. They had three sons and four daughters; all but one son and one daughter died in childhood. William, the surviving son, died shortly after graduating from Williams College. The surviving daughter married John T. Rathbun, of Elmira.[1] In 1867, Benjamin became ill with "bronchial affection" and diarrhea, and was largely confined to his home for over a year, unable to climb steps without assistance.[9] Despite these health problems, he took his annual trip, accompanied by his daughter, to his birthplace in Riverhead, Long Island to visit his nephew.[9] Benjamin died there on September 1, 1868, with his daughter by his side.[9] His body was returned to Elmira for burial in Woodlawn Cemetery.[10] Legacy A statue of Benjamin stands on the Elmira College campus. A song about Benjamin was composed by an Elmira College sophomore in 1958.[1] External linksReferences
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