Thomas A. Benbow (1830-1908) was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and died in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By 1850 he was living and working as a teacher in South Division, North Carolina. He married Mary A. Benbow (b. Nicholson) in Iredell, North Carolina, in 1853, and they lived in Yadkin County, North Carolina, where Benbow was a farmer. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War they relocated to Providence, Iowa, where he became a homeopathic physician. They moved to Colorado Springs sometime prior to 1880.
Benbow was introduced to Christian Science by Joseph A. and Julia A. D. Adams, both students of Mary Baker Eddy. In the mid-1880s Benbow studied Christian Science in Colorado Springs with Estella E. Gillin, a student of George B. Wickersham who in turn was a student of Eddy. Benbow himself took the Primary class from Eddy in May 1887 and subsequently joined the Christian Scientist Association. In an 1888 letter published in The Christian Science Journal he wrote that upon taking up Christian Science he arranged to trade all of his medical books, medicines, and instruments for a Jersey cow and that he was teaching a Sabbath school in his home every week.
Both he and his wife joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts, on December 31, 1892. Benbow's first wife died in 1894, and in 1899 he married Mary L. Dana (b. Griffin) in Colorado Springs. She was also a Christian Scientist, joining The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, on October 6, 1894, and listing as a practitioner in the Journal from 1901 until 1911. Benbow was listed as a practitioner in the Journal from 1901 until his passing. He became a member of the General Association of Teachers in 1903.
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Thomas A. Benbow (1830-1908) was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and died in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By 1850 he was living and working as a teacher in South Division, North Carolina. He married Mary A. Benbow (b. Nicholson) in Iredell, North Carolina, in 1853, and they lived in Yadkin County, North Carolina, where Benbow was a farmer. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War they relocated to Providence, Iowa, where he became a homeopathic physician. They moved to Colorado Springs sometime prior to 1880.
Benbow was introduced to Christian Science by Joseph A. and Julia A. D. Adams, both students of Mary Baker Eddy. In the mid-1880s Benbow studied Christian Science in Colorado Springs with Estella E. Gillin, a student of George B. Wickersham who in turn was a student of Eddy. Benbow himself took the Primary class from Eddy in May 1887 and subsequently joined the Christian Scientist Association. In an 1888 letter published in The Christian Science Journal he wrote that upon taking up Christian Science he arranged to trade all of his medical books, medicines, and instruments for a Jersey cow and that he was teaching a Sabbath school in his home every week.
Both he and his wife joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts, on December 31, 1892. Benbow's first wife died in 1894, and in 1899 he married Mary L. Dana (b. Griffin) in Colorado Springs. She was also a Christian Scientist, joining The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, on October 6, 1894, and listing as a practitioner in the Journal from 1901 until 1911. Benbow was listed as a practitioner in the Journal from 1901 until his passing. He became a member of the General Association of Teachers in 1903.
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