Obituary of Benjamin DYGERT
 
        Was one of a family of ten children, eight boys and two girls,
who with their parents, Adam Dygert and wife, removed from Rochester, N.
Y., to Indiana in the year 1838.  Before leaving New York the father had
purchased and paid for a quarter section of land in what was then the
"far west" and had definite plans for making a home amid the forest of
northeastern Indiana.  When the family arrived in Steuben county, so
primeval was the wilderness, they found they would have to construct a
road in order to be able to reach their land.  Willing hands set to work
felling the trees.  The mother was left with a settler's family a few
miles back on the road, while the father and his sturdy sons, all of
whom, save one, were old enough to assist in the work, built the
necessary road and erected a log cabin.  Quickly this work was done, and
soon the family were settled in this pioneer home.  The work of clearing
the land then began.
        Jan. 1, 1846, Benjamin Dygert was married to Phoebe A. Carpenter.
 About this same time his father divided his farm among those of his sons
who had not already received substantial benefactions from their father. 
To  Benjamin was given that portion of the original homestead on which
the family home was located.  In return he gave to his father and mother
a lien on the farm for their support during the rest of their lives. 
Most faithfully was this contract carried out.  The father lived but a
few years after this adjustment was made, but the mother dwelt with her
son and daughter-in-law almost thirty years, dying at the age of 84.
        To Benjamin Dygert and his wife were born six children.  One of
these died in infancy and the others together with the mother survive. 
These children, excepting the youngest daughter, are all married and
their homes are within two miles of the old homestead.  The house in
which the father and mother lived at the time of the former's death was
built upon the same ground the first log cabin of his father covered. 
Two brothers, John and Adam Dygert, are also bereft by Mr. Dygert's
death.
        By hard work, economy and good business ability, Benjamin Dygert
accumulated considerable wealth, and at the time of his death was one of
the largest land owners in the county.  For a number of years before his
last illness he was unable to attend to the business of the farm and his
financial interests have been in the hands of his son George A., who
lived on the farm near his parents.
        Aug. 9, 1907, at the age of 85 years, 5 months, and 3 days this
Steuben county pioneer fell asleep.  Widely known, having established a
reputation for industry and sagacity, full of years, he has been gathered
to his fathers.  Funeral services were conducted at the home in the
presence of a vast concourse of people, by Elder Vernon Stauffer, Sunday,
August 11, 1976.

Steuben Republican, August 14, 1907, p.1.

Submitted by:  Nathan K. Carpenter  ncarpenter1@juno.com