Sylvester Lanham 1790 (see The Sylvester Lanham Family 1790) → Benjamin Garfield Lanham 1820

Benjamin Garfield LANHAM ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} was born on 14 Jan 1820 in , Franklin, Missouri, USA. He died on 09 Mar 1902 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. He was buried in Pleasant Mound Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

BG Lanham was a farmer and stock raiser living in precinct No 3, Dallas County, Texas, was born in Franklin County, Missouri, 14 January 1820. He was the fifth born in the family of eight children of Sylvester and Jane (Estes) Lanham, natives of Kentucky and Virginia and respectively. BG Lanham moved to Missouri when that state was yet a Territory and located in what was afterward Franklin County. He served in the Winnebago campaign for a short time. In 1814, he joined the American Army for the war with Great Britain, but peace being declared soon afterward, he saw no active service During Mr. Lanham’s residence in Franklin County, the earthquake occurred in New Madrid and other points in southeastern Missouri, and was so serious in Franklin County that many chimneys were felled to the ground. From Missouri he moved to Morgan County, Illinois. This was about 1828. After living there seven years he went to Adams County, where he remained about the same length of time. As the county settled up he moved from place to place, ever seeking the frontier. Next he located on the Pratt purchase in Missouri, then in Andrew County, next to Nodaway County, same State, where he lived until 1853. That year he harnessed his team and started across the country for Texas, arriving in Dallas County and taking up his adobe at the place, where his son, B.G. Lanham, now lives. In making this trip they were seven weeks on the trail. Arriving here 24 December 1853, he and his son immediately purchased a farm of 600 acres. education opportunities were limited in youth, but in later life he has made up for these deficiencies by observation and reading, and keeping himself well posted on general topics. He landed in Texas with more money than most of the early settlers, having $1600.00 in cash. ^[6]

Eight acres of the soil had been broken and a little log house had been built, these bring the only improvements on the place. Although game was plentiful the senior Mr. Lanbani ( original owner) found himself too old to enjoy the pleasures of the chase. He died at the place in 1863, at the age of seventy-two. His wife lived until 1868, when she died at the age of 71. ^[6]

B.G. Lanham’s educational opportunities were limited in youth, but in later life he made up for these deficiencies by observation and reading. He landed in Texas with more money than most earlier settlers, having $1600.00 in cash. For the 600 acres already alluded to they paid $1000.00. A few years afterwards the title failed to be good and after having a suit he was compelled to give up half of the land. Mr. Lanham joined the Confederate Army and served in the trans-Mississippi department. He was on the frontier all the time with the exception of three months spent on the coast. At the close of the war he returned home, and like many others found himself a financial wreak, having not as much stock as before the war. He remained only with his land. He is now engaged in stock raising, but not as much stock as before the war. He started specializing in horse breeding. ^[6]

His first wife died in 1856 and was buried west of the house on a little hill. He married Mary Ann BEAMAN (5 Feb. 1855 in Dallas), daughter of Samuel and Polly (Smeleer) Beaman, natives of Illinois who came here at an earlier date. This union blessed by the birth of eight children, two of whom died when small. Jacob S. Lanham resides in this county, Samuel S. Lanham, of Clay County, Texas. Sarah J. Lanham, wife of Alexander Dickey, of Johnson County, Texas. Catherine Lanham wife of Brance Furggerson, of this county, William Lanham, at home with his parents. ^[6]

They had the following children:

Benjamin married (1) Emma T. CLARK ^[2] daughter of Samuel CLARK and Nancy in 1848 in , Nodaway, Missouri, USA. Emma was born about 1826 in of , Andrew, Missouri, USA. Emma T. died soon after moving to Dallas, and was buried west of the house on a little hill. She died on 03 Feb 1854 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. She was buried on 03 Feb 1854 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA.

They had the following children:

(i.) Daughter, Julia Ann LANHAM was born on 18 Jul 1850 in ,, Missouri, USA. ^[4] Julia married ^[7] William W. GLOVER on 15 Jul 1871 in , Dallas, Texas, USA. William was born about 1846 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA.

(ii.) Son, Hiram LANHAM was born on 15 May 1852 in , Coleman, Texas, USA. ^[4]

John Neely Bryan, the first settler on the site of the present City of Dallas arrived at Dallas November 1841, and in 1843 married Margaret Beeman, a sister of Samuel Beeman.

Benjamin married (2) Mary Ann BEEMAN ^{[2] [4] [5]} daughter of Samuel Sylvester BEEMAN and Mary Ann (Polly) SMELSEN (Smeleer) on 05 Feb 1855 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Mary was born on 08 Dec 1828 in ,, Missouri, USA. She died on 30 Nov 1907 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. She was buried in Pleasant Mound Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

They had the following children:

(i.) Died young ^[8]

(ii.) Died young ^[8]

(iii.) Son, Jacob Smelzer (Jake) LANHAM ^{[2] [4] [5]} was born on 25 Nov 1855 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. Jacob married ^[9] Mary Ana FERGUSON on 14 Nov 1880 in , Dallas, Texas, USA. Jacob died 5 Dec. 1913 in Dallas, Dallas Co. TX. Jacob is buried in the Pleasant Mound Cemetery in the Pleasant Grove Area of East Dallas,TX. Annie (b.1869;d.1951) is buried beside him. They had six children: William Thomas, Jacob Henry and Jacob S., Emmie, Allie, Annie Marie. ^[8]

(iv.) Son, Samuel Sylvester LANHAM ^{[2] [4] [5]} was born on 07 Jan 1857 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. He lived in Clay County, Texas. He died 12 Feb. 1913, Shannon, Clay Co. TX. Samuel married ^[10] Minnie MILLER on 05 Dec 1883 in , Dallas, Texas, USA.

(v.) Daughter, Sarah Jane LANHAM was born on 09 Jun 1859 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. ^[4] Sarah married (1) ^[11] Wm. C. BRUTON on 16 Oct 1879 in , Dallas, Texas, USA. Sarah married (2) ^[2] Alexander DICKEY. ^[2] Alexander was born in , Johnson, Texas, USA. Sarah died 25 April 1919.

(vi.) Son, Benjamin LANHAM ^{[2] [5]} was born on 25 Nov 1860 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. He lived in Clay County, Texas. He died 14 Oct 1942 in Dallas, Dallas Texas.

(vii.) Daughter, Mary Catherine LANHAM was born on 27 Sep 1863 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. ^[5] Mary married ^[12] Wm. B. FERGUSON (also known as Branch) ^{[2] [5]} on 16 Nov 1879 in , Dallas, Texas, USA. Wm. was born in of , Dallas, Texas, USA. Together they had the following children: Mary Maria " Sissy" Ferguson b.1880, James B. Ferguson b.1882, Barnett Gibbs "Barney" Ferguson b.1884, Michael Ralph Ferguson b.1886, Theodore Bransford Ferguson b. 1888 Mary died 20 April 1946. ^[13]

(viii.) Son, William LANHAM ^[5] was born on 04 Mar 1865 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. He died November 1932, Joy, Clay Co. TX The 1880 census shows his middle initial as F.

The census of 1860 ^[4] showed BG Lanham’s family consisting of:

The census of 1880 ^[14] showed BG Lanham’s family consisting of: