Benjamin M. Redding
May 4, 1792-December 29, 1877
Benjamin M. Redding died at his residence, in this city, on Saturday night last, about 12 o'clock, in the 86th year of his age. He was born in Bedford county, VA., May 4, 1792. He removed to Preble county, Ohio, in 1812, where he purchased a farm. He was married Dec. 14, 1814, to Miss Permelia Wilson, by whom he had 12 children--four daughters and eight sons, all of whom are dead except James H. who resides near Dayton. He removed from Ohio to Terre Coupe Prairie, Ind., in the fall of 1830, and purchased a large farm, where he remained only one year, when he moved over the line into Michigan, and built a saw mill at Dayton where the grist mill now stands. Thomas Denniston doing the carpenter work. Soon after the railroad was built he laid out the village of Dayton. His wife died Dec. 27, 1836. In July, 1837, he married Mrs. Eunice A. Davis, of Niles. He removed to this city Oct. 21, 1858, and purchased a homestead on the west side, where he resided at the time of his death. Mr. Redding was one of those enterprising and energetic men, well adapted to pioneer life, that struck the first blow to turn a wilderness into fruitful fields. He was, for 60 years, a devoted member of the Methodist Church and died with the Christian armor on.
(Source: Niles Mirror, Wednesday, January 2, 1878, page 5, col. 4, Microfilm Niles District Library)