BENJAMIN BURGESS OFFEN, 60

(Veteran)

Benjamin Burgess Offen was born Sept. 3, 1845 in Tenterdon, county of Kent, England. He came to America at the age of sixteen years together with his mother and three younger brothers and for several years took the place of provider and father to these brothers.

As a child he was brought up in the church of England and was a conscientious Christian man, always living the part, kind and considerate and a peace loving man.

On March, 5, 1865, he enlisted in Company G 193 New York Infantry serving one year as military police in the Shendendoah Valley.

On Nov. 5, 1874, he was married to Jennie A. Rector, who with two daughters, Miss Belva still at home and Mrs. M.E. Winset of Arlington and one son, Leslie of Blair, still survive him.

He had been in poor health for some time and was for some time in a serious condition before the end came on last Friday afternoon.

The funeral services conducted by Rev. McKeeman was held in the Congregational church at 2:30 o'clock on last Sunday afternoon and interment was made in the Blair cemetery. The G.A.R and W.R.C. organizations, also the American Legion and Auxiliary attended the services in a body, the two former having charge at the church and cemetery.

#2 Printed in the February 4, 1925 Pilot, Blair, Nebraska Offen, B.B.

Another one has fallen from the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic when B. B. Offen was mustered out last Friday by the hand of Death. He had been a patient sufferer for several months, and the end was neither unwelcome to him nor a surprise to the family, however sad the parting. The funeral service was held at the Congregational church at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, Rev. J. A. McKeeman officiating. The officers of the W. R. C. conducted a short service at the church and the G. A. R held their commitment service at the side of the grave. There was a large attendance at the funeral service and the floral offerings showed something of the high esteem in which the family is held in the community. Benjamin Burgess Offen was born in Tenterdon county of Kent, England Sept. 3rd, 1845, so was past 79 years of age. He came to this country with his widowed mother and three younger brothers when he was 16 years old, settling at Cape Vincent, N. Y. Mr. Offen enlisted in co. G. 193rd New York Inf. on March 5, 1865, being not yet 20 years of age, and served for a year as a member of the military police force in the Shenandoah Valley. At the close of the war he returned to his New York home and on November 5th, 1874 he was married to Miss Jennie A. Rector. In 1885 they moved to Spencer, Ia., which was their home for many years. They spent about nine years in Greenfield, Tenn., before coming to Blair nearly eight years ago. Three children were born to them: Mrs. E. M. Winsett of Arlington, Belva and Leslie of this city. There are also four grandchildren and three great grandchildren surviving. Mr. Offen was a member of the G. A. R. and always attended their meetings when able. He was a quiet man but of sterling character and worth, who will be greatly missed by his family, his friends and the community at large.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library ~~~

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