Benton is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,880 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County[1].
History
Benton, the county seat of Franklin County, took its name from the prominent senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton. The village of Benton was organized in 1841 on 20 acres (81,000 m2) of property donated by John Ewing and Walter S. Akin. In 1902 the village became a city, and incorporated under the mayor/commissioner form of government.
Franklin County was platted in 1818, the year Illinois became a state, at twice its current size. It included the territory that is now Williamson County. In 1839 the county was split roughly in half and the county seat was permanently fixed "at a hill at the south end of Rowling's Prairie," the site of the future city of Benton.
The Franklin County Courthouse sits in the center of the Public Square. It is the third courthouse that has served the people of Franklin County. The Italianate building was constructed in 1874-75 at a cost of $27,500.00
Much of Benton's growth in the past can be traced to the abundance of high sulfur coal, the presence of multiple railroads, rich soil and the industry of her people.
On April 19, 1928 Benton was the site of the last public hanging in Illinois, when local gangster Charles Birger was executed on the gallows next to the county jail for the December 12, 1926 for the murder of Joe Adams, mayor of nearby West City, Illinois. A replica of the gallows and hangman's noose were built by Carpenter Birchard Wampler and his late son Birchard Neil Wampler. They remain standing today next to the old Jail turned Museum.
In September 1963, George Harrison of The Beatles visited Benton while on vacation. He stayed at the home of his sister, Louise, at 113 McCann Street. The bungalow is now the Hard Day's Nite Bed and Breakfast. Harrison also performed with band at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Eldorado, Illinois. In an interview, Harrison's sister Louise said "his real first visit to America was when he came to the midwest in September of 1963 and he met these wonderful, warm, friendly, real warm Midwesterners... school teachers, retired miners and all kinds of just wonderful people... and a little band. He had a fantastic time. He thought they were just wonderful people."[1]
Residents of note
William L. Hungate, Missouri Congressman and Federal judge, was born in Benton on Feb. 14, 1922.
Benton is also the hometown of actor John Malkovich.
Benton is the hometown of NBA coach and player, and Olympic basketball player Doug Collins.
Benton was the home of Hollywood costume designer Brad Loman.
It is the hometown of Grand Ole Opry Star Billy Grammer.
It is the hometown of comedian Tommy Johnagin.
It is also the hometown of rock group Revis.
Benton is the hometown of Reathel Odum. Ms. Odum was Senator Harry Truman's secretary (1936-1945) and Bess Truman's personal secretary (1945-1953). She was a Truman family confidante and lived with the Truman's in the White House. Later, she traveled with Truman's daughter, Margaret.
Benton is the hometown of Georgia Tech's all-time basketball scoring record holder Rich Yunkus with 2,232 points. Freshman were not allowed to play in his day and there was no 3 pt. shot.
Benton is the home of Lin Bolen, former Vice President of NBC. Bolen was head of daytime programming for the network in the 1970s and one of the first women executives in network television. Faye Dunaway's character in the movie "Network" was rumored to have been based on Lin Bolen.
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