Olive Mary Knight Benson and
Her Children
by Minnie Egan Anderson
excerpted from John Henry Evans and Minnie Egan Anderson, Ezra Taft Benson:
Pioneer—Statesman—Saint (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press, 1947),
pp. 349–51
Olive Mary Knight was married to Ezra T. Benson, July,
1851. She was known to her friends and acquaintances as Mary. Born
Olive Mary Knight and Ezra T. Benson were the parents of
seven children. Quiet and unassuming, and of medium height, her sparkling brown
eyes and black hair gave color and charm to her personality. Ambitious and
spiritual be nature, she was called to serve as the president of the first
Relief Society organized in
Ofttimes in a facetious and teasing manner her children
would say “Mother, is the Church worth all the sacrifices that you have made
for it?” Her answer would come back quickly and with fervor, “Do you think I
would have trudged across the plains in blistering heat if I hadn’t been sure
of its divine origin?”
When Ezra T. Benson attended the celebration at
Promontory Point in honor of the completion of the railroad Mary Knight went
with him to care for his needs.
After the death of her husband, Mary supported her little
family alone. She struggled valiantly to give them the necessities of life and
rear them to be honorable men and women. Her oldest child at the demise of Ezra
T. Benson was 16 years of age and there were six other children younger. No
moment was ever wasted. She had a small farm and track of land. The land was
rented and from this farm her family received their support. Lorenzo Taft
Benson her fourth child and the last living member of her family is now 84 years of age. He remembers clearly his father. He
recalls with pleasure the thrills he experienced as a child when he was allowed
to go with his father on a short trip. He tells of his father’s kindness and of
his firm expectance of obedience. He remembers that his mother always managed
to have a beef to kill for winter and the cellar piled high with provisions
grown on the farm.
On her death bed her mind remained keen and clear. Among
the last words she uttered were spoken to Lorenzo when she gave him this
admonition, “Lorenzo, be a good Mormon.” She died
Her sons learned from practical application under the
tutelage of their thrifty mother of the art of tilling the soil. Their rows
like their lives were straight and true. Joseph used the hours he could spare
from his farm to work in the House of the Lord. For many years he served as an
officiator in the
Don Carlos, the youngest child, viewed the world from the
first time three weeks after his father’s death. He was denied the privilege of
acquaintanceship with his illustrious father whose death occurred on
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