Maria Louisa Benham
The Daily Commonwealth, Saturday June 28, 1884, page 3
Death of Maria L Benham
News has reached us of the death of Mrs. Maria Louise Benham,
which occurred three days in San Francisco, Cal. at the residence of her
daughter, Mrs. Charles Fairfax. The death of this lady at the advanced age of 84
years, born under the shadow of the country's capital with a splendid physique,
a strong mind, stored with an educated intelligence, made her the peer and
sought associate of the most brilliant minds collected in and about Washington
more than a half century ago.
She was a Slocum, a noble family of Virginia, and inherited much of the aristocracy of the cavaliers. When she was 25 years of age she married the Hon. Joseph B Benham, then a distinguished lawyer in Cincinnati, to which place she came with her husband, and their home was the home of hospitality and enjoyable to the best intellects of the country.
Mr. Benham had three children, all distinguished for their attainments and culture. One of them became the wife of George D Prentice, the celebrated poet and editor and much of their attainments was due to the careful tutelage of their step mother, the subject of this notice. Mrs. Benham had only one child who married the Hon. Chas Fairfax, of California, and she too had the brilliancy of conversation of her mother, united with an amiable character seldom seen so perfect.
When the late war commenced, Mrs. Benham, long then a widow, with her warm feelings of Virginia, became a strong southern supporter, and although a resident of Cincinnati, her strength of will and high character gave a support to their cause, while her kindness of heart and charity gave material aid and comfort to many a poor Confederate, sick and contained a prisoner by the fate of war.
For the last few years, she has resided with her daughter in California, where she met her death, not unexpected but with the fortitude of a brave spirit leaving many old associates and friends this broad land over who hold a precious heritage that they knew Mrs. Maria L Benham.
Her remains are now en route to Cincinnati and will be interred some day next week at Spring Grove Cemetery. Due notice of funeral will be given. M J D