Mr. K. Verdaine Hooper wrote:
Another obit from one of the Fairfield papers from my grandmother's collection.

Benjamin Franklin  Jesop, aged Grover township resident. passed away Saturday at his home in Merriam. He had been in failing health for some time suffering with the infirmities incident to advanced age. On Wednesday preceding his passing he suffered a paralytic stroke.

Funeral services  were conducted at two-thirty o’clock Monday afternoon at the Union Church by Rev. E. H. Cissna, pastor of the M. E. Church in Centralia. Burial was in  the Union cemetery beside his wife.

Benjamin Franklin Jesop, son of the late Titus and Elizabeth (Merrit) Jesop, was born near Fairfield January 2nd, 1849.  He departed this life at the family home in Merriam, May 6th, 1939, at the age of ninety years, four months and four days.

Mr. Jesop grew to manhood and lived his entire life in the community, in which he died.

On December 29th, 1878 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Wilson.   To this union were born eight children. One daughter died in infancy.  His oldest daughter, Mary Arebel (Jesop) Merrit died in 1907 leaving four small children, whom Mr. Jesop took in his home and cared for as his ovn until they were grown and married. Emma Elizabeth  Lucretia Inez, Martha Agnes also preceded their father in death after they had reached maturity.

After forty-five years of happy married life Mrs. Jesop passed away Jan. 1st, 1933.  Since that time he has made his home with his youngest son Richard at the family home in Merriam.

Mr. Jesop lived an active life, was selected by his friends several times for public office.  He was a hard working man, a good citizen, a faithful companion and loving father.

He professed faith in Christ while young and about eighteen years ago he reeconsecrated his life to Chhst and became active in church work

He leaves to mourn has pasing three children, Mrs. W. A. Blades, Sam Jesop and Richard Jesop all of near Merriam, seventeen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Lou Anderson of Fairfield.

Those called here by the death of  their grandfather were. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Merritt and daughter, Peggy, Hammond, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. John Farris and son, Edward, Lowell, Ind., Everet Merrit, Hammond, Ind.; Dr. and Mrs. James Blades and son, Donald, Sidney, Ill.