Benoni Stinson, Medal of Honor Recipient
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A descendant of two Stinson branches, Mary Walthall, has studied the Overton County pioneers for many years. She believes Benoni was either the son of Lewis Cobb Stinson or his brother, Martin Stinson.
The family of Lewis C. Stinson lived in Overton County in the 1830 Census. Lewis C. Stinson paid taxes in Overton County in 1836. He has other records in Overton and Fentress Counties. In 1839, Lewis C. Stinson “of Tennessee” entered a land grant at the office in Vincennes, Indiana.
Benoni Stinson was the name of a prominent 19th Century Kentucky Baptist leader. He was apparently the son of Elijah Brazzill Stinson, who had a son named Lewis Cobb Stinson, hypothetically the father of the Medal of Honor recipient. Lewis C. Stinson is recorded by family researchers as also serving as a Baptist preacher and is thought to have died before 1850.
Biographical Details for Benoni Stinson, MoH Recipient
Born: 1831, Overton County, Tennessee
Died: 15 December 1870, Stockton, California
Buried: Stockton State Hospital Cemetery (now closed; grave site reportedly moved to Stockton Rural Cemetery — Government Block 10A, mass grave)
Enlistment: Stockton, California, 24 Sep 1866
Rank: Private
Branch: U. S. Army
Unit: Company B, 8th U. S. Cavalry
Conflict: Indian Campaigns
Action Date and Place: August 13-October 31, 1868, in the vicinity of the Black Mountains, Arizona
Citation: Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians (Apache)
Awarded July 24, 1869 (while living)
History of the 8th Cavalry
The 8th U. S. formed as a horse cavalry regiment on 28 July 1866 and was organized the following September at Camp Reynolds on Angel Island, California. An uncited description at Wikipedia states the regiment was “composed chiefly of men enlisted on the Pacific Coast, and included many of the class styled ‘Forty-niners’; men who had worked months or years in the mines and were typical specimens of the roving order of citizens. Many of them were wild characters who enlisted in the same spirit of adventure which led them to the frontier, and typically had difficulty in adapting themselves to the conformity of a military life.” By the end of 1867, 41% of the unit had deserted.
The regiment served in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas between 1867 and 1888. From December, 1866, the 8th Cavalry was involved in the Snake War.
The 8th Cavalry article at Wikipedia mentions John James Mitchell, of Company L, received the Medal of Honor. During a battle in 1869, 18 members of the regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor. The article does not mention Benoni Stinson.
Military Service of Benoni Stinson of California
This appears to be Benoni Stinson was in Company G, 4th Infantry, Company G, Union Army during the Civil War from California. He enlisted for 3 years on 7 October 1861 at Auburn, CA. His occupation was “Trader.” He was age 35, height 6 feet, 3/4″, complexion light, blue eyes, light brown hair, born Overton, Tenn.
The enlistment states: “Reenlisted as a veteran volunteer Feb 12/64 from 3 years at New San Diego Bks Cal” and “Dischgd by virtue of reenlistmt of Vet Vol per GO no 191 current series of 1863 War Department.” He received a $260 bounty for the re-enlistment in installments.
A Register of U. S. Army Enlistments, 1798-1914, located at Ancestry.com, contains a record #2616 for Benoni Stinson, enlisted for 5 years on 24 Sep 1866 under Lt. McGilvray in Sacramento, California. He was born at Overton, Tennessee. He was age 35, six feet tall, a minor, with blue eyes, light brown hair, and light complexion. His prior service was Co. B, 8th Cavalry. He was discharged “2 En”? March 30, 1870, per S. O. 62, A. G. 0, March 17, 1870, at Stockton, Cali, as Pvt (see M. R. for March 30, 1870).
He was on furlough for 30 days beginning 25 March, 1864, then returned with the re-enlistment in May.
He was appointed 5th Sergeant 28 Oct 1861 discharged as a Sergeant 31 Mar 1866 at the Presidio in San Francisco.
The Return of the Eighth Regiment of U. S. Cavalry for December, 1869, section Absent Enlisted Men at line 7, Company B notes “Benoni Stinson an Insane Soldier sent to Dept Hd Qrs Dec 3, 1869.” [source: NARA RG M744, Roll 079-086. Researcher’s note: a significant umber of soldiers are confined in jails.]
Other Contemporary Benoni Stinsons
The Placer Herald newspaper, 19 February 1853, contains a list of letters “remaining in the Post Office at Auburn, on the 12th day of February, 1853” that includes the name Benoni Stinson.
The 1850 Census of Sacramento City, California, includes Ben Stinson, age 22, born in Indiana, working as a Teamster. He is in a household with eight other men of similar age who appear to be working in the mining industry.
In the 1870 Census of Stockton, California, a Ben Stinson, soldier, age 35, born in Texas, is listed as a resident of the Insane Asylum. The Register for that hospital contains this record:
Registers of the California State Hospitals
Stockton State Hospital Commitment Registers, Vol. 03-04, 1862-1870
No. 3927
Benoni Stinson
U. S. Soldier
Committed by Seldon S. Wright Probate Judge of San Francisco December 14th 1869. Age 35 years; native of Tennessee; occupation Soldier Co. B. 8th U.S. Cavalry
The evidencee of insanity is he took a musket and tried to shoot some soldiers — mutters a great deal to himself — escaped from the guard and wandered off into the mountains for several days; etas and sleeps very little gets up in the night and wanders off when not watched. This attack appeared six months since; disease increasing; class of insanity mania; condition of patient when received about the same as represented above
Admitted December 16th 1869
Discharged April 4th 1870. Returned April 5th 1870, discharge revoked
Admitted April 5th 1870
Died December 15 1870 of marasmus
Statement rendered up to March 30th inclusive 2 months & 29 dys $44.50 US Government case to pay from this date
It appears some of Lewis C. Stinson’s children migrated to Paris, Texas. One child, Peter Floyd Stinson, M.D., apparently died in 1888 in College City, California.
Another Benoni Stinson appears to have served in the Mexican War and Civil War from Indiana. B. C. Stinson enlisted in Indiana in September, 1863, age 36, born Kentucky, married, farmer, former service 65th Indiana. Record just above this is for what appears to be Berrond Stinson, married, no age, born Kentucky, farmer, same prior service.
A Benoni Stinson, Jr., of Evansville, Ind., graduated from Cincinnati Law School in the Class of 1846-7.
The Daily Democratic State Journal, California, 22 December 1857: “A New Town. — A new mining town has lately sprung up on the Auburn Ravine, about twelve miles west of Auburn, about twleve miles west of Auburn, and already boasts a store, blacksmith shop, and other establishments. Ben Stinson, late of the El Dorado Gold Hills, is building a billiard saloon, an a hotel is to be commenced immediately. By common consent the new village is called Fox’s Flat, in compliment to the “oldest inhabitant.” Good surface mines are said to be in the immediate vicinity; and there is promise of lively times for miners an dtraders. Water plenty! — Placer Herald.
There are references to others named Benoni Stinson in the descendant lineage of Elijah Brazzill Stinson, who died in Evansville, Indiana, in 1835.
Sources: Congressional Medal of Honor Society (cmohs.org), Fold3.com, records at Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, and public tree information for Lewis Cobb Stinson
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3F1S-JDT