thenceforth Mr. Benjamin's abiding
place until the summons came that ended all his earthly hopes and plans.

"He was an active factor in farmers' co-operative society affairs and
supported all movements for the moral and educational uplift of the
community. He had been for many years a member of the M. E. church and
of the Woodmen's and Royal Neighbors' camps and a valued and active
member of each of these societies.

[Illustration: John Franklin Benjamin.]

"Mr. Benjamin left no children, and the wife who has been his devoted
helpmate for twenty-seven years survives to face the coming years of
bereavement alone.

"His had been a useful life, a life of ceaseless and honorable toil,
and that beautiful and valuable property, Highland Home Fruit Farm,
largely the product of the work of his own hands, is a monument to his
memory which will long endure to be admired and enjoyed by others as one
of the model rural places of Minnesota. Few men in the space of
twenty-five years have accomplished more than did J. F. Benjamin in
establishing the fine, modern home, the large orchard and small fruit
and flower gardens and well stocked farm, all of which he had tended
with loving hands."

Mr. Benjamin was well known by the members of this society who have
attended its annual meetings within the last ten or fifteen years.
During this period he has been an active member of the society, often
serving on the program or in some other way as opportunity came to him.
He was one of the most loyal members of the association, practicing what
he preached, and doing all within his power to extend the usefulness of
the society. I had a close personal acquaintance with Mr. Benjamin and
the highest respect for his character and attainments. As a
comparatively young man we anticipated his presence with us for a long
period of time, but in this we are sadly disappointed. His wife in a
recent letter says, "One of his greatest pleasures was cultivating and
taking care of the flowers which surrounded his home. After a hard day's
work in the field, he would labor with his flowers and shrubbery until
far into the night. He enjoyed taking or sending flowers to the sick,
and many bouquets of his choicest blossoms he gave his friends as they
drove past or called to admire his beautiful grounds." In this spirit
Mr. Benjamin labored to reach others and widen the wholesome influence
of his life.--Sec'y.

PROGRAM 50th ANNUAL MEETING

Our Semi-Cen