Benton Town Hall with veteran monuments and U.S. flag.
When the United States entered WWI, the town of Benton New Hampshire had about 200 residents (219 in 1910, 177 by 1920). Of these at least four men went into military service. One would not return home alive. When the war ended, the Town of Benton wanted to commemorate those who participated in several wars, War of 1812, Mexican War and World War I.
A plaque was made and affixed to a large boulder, placed near Benton’s Town Hall at 221 Coventry Road. A flag pole flies the American Flag ovehead. The inscription is as follows
Benton NH’s Honor Roll for War of 1812, Civil War and WWI.
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HONOR ROLL
BENTON NEW HAMPSHIRE
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-WAR OF 1812-
Peter Eastman – – Moses Welch
Joseph Edmonds – – Jacob Whitcher
-MEXICAN WAR-
Daniel Batchelder – – Samuel A. Mann
-1861-CIVIL WAR-1865
David Bowman – – Daniel M. Howe
Willard W. Coburn – – Leonard C. Moody
Jeremiah B. Davis Jr. – – George M. Tirrell
WIlliam T. Davis – – Isaac H. Tyler
Charles W.H. Howe – – Henry M. Whiteman
-1914-WORLD WAR-1919
Paul H. Buzzell – – Arthur E. Tyler
Arthur J. Hicks – – Ralph B. Ward
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HEROES OF BENTON, N.H.
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Paul Howe Buzzell was born 3 Aug 1889 Stowe, Lamoille Co. VT, son of Bert & Kate S. (Howe) Buzzell. In 1900 he was living in Benton NH, aged 10 in the household of his grandparents, Daniel M. & Susan Howe, and with his mother, and step-father [now remarried to Edgar L. Morse.] On 5 June 1917 when he completed his WWI Registration form, he was single and working as a farmer in Benton NH. He was tall, of stout buiold with hazel eyes and black hair. He noted that he had a disability (but does not describe it).
Before going into military service, Paul H. Buzzell married 9 July 1918 in Littleton NH to Myrtie S. Corr, daughter of WIlliam & Edith (Brown) Corr. [She m2d) 8 July 1921 in Littleton NH to Samuel W. Inman, son of William & Pliny (Folsom) Inman. She married 3d) 8 Dec 1937 in Warren Maine to Joseph K. Conant. She b 9 July 1900 Littleton NH, d. 15 March 1970.].
Paul H. Buzzell’s U.S. Headstone application fills in the details of his WWI military Service: BUZZELL, Paul H / Private, 11th Co. 152nd D.B. / Died 30 September 1918 in line of duty / Enlisted September 5, 1918 / Died in Service 30 September 1918 / Service Number 4168470.
A death certificate completes the story. He was a resident of Camp Upton in Brookhaven NY for 25 days when he died of influenza (one week duration) on 30 September 1918. He was buried in West Cemetery, Benton, New Hampshire.
A second soldier should also be remembered, through his name does not appear on Benton’s WWI monument. Leslie G. Whiteman, was born 23 July 1891 in Benton NH,
son of Fred E. & Della (Spooner) Whitman. He volunteered at Concord NH, Co E, 103rd Infantry Regiment, and was Killed in France July 1918. SEE HEROES OF ROCHESTER.
[Editor’s Note: this story is part of an on-going series about heroic New Hampshire men and women of World War I. Look here for the entire listing].
