Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Benjamin L. MAYHEW, Deputy Warden of Illinois State Prison, Joliet, born in Dennysville, 
Wash. Co., Me., June 16, 1822; his ancestors came from England in 1642, landing at Martha's 
Vineyard, Mass.; Mr. M. came to Boston in 1842, where he lived and worked at the trade of 
machinist until 1845, making one voyage at sea during this period, when he went to Cambridge, 
Mass, and was connected with the Cambridge Prison as guard for two years; in 1847, he was 
appointed Deputy Keeper, which position he held for eleven years. On Dec. 15, 1856, Deputy 
Warden Galen C. WALKER, of the Charlestown State Prison was murdered in the chapel by 
convict James MAGEE, and upon the 29th inst. of the same month, Warden Solon H. TENNY 
was murdered by convict Charles D. DECATUR; the two chief officers having been murdered, 
Mr. MAYHEW was selected to take full charge of the Charlestown State Prison, which he did 
with great credit for twenty-one days, till new officers were appointed, Mr. MAYHEW meanwhile 
retaining his old position at Cambridge; in 1858, he was appointed Deputy Warden of the 
Charlestown, Mass., State Prison, which office he held for ten years; he then emigrated to 
Illinois, and in the year 1870, was appointed Deputy Warden of the Illinois State 
Penitentiary at Joliet, which position he has since held, with the exception of four 
years absence. Mr. MAYHEW married Oct. 31, 1847, to Miss Frances J. NICKERSON; she was 
born in Westminster, Vt., May 23, 1821; they are the parents of two children now living, 
viz.: William B., born in Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 1, 1848, now serving his fifth year as 
Engineer in the U. S. Navy; Maria F., born in Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 11, 1857; Edmund L., 
born in Charlestown, Mass., Nov. 8, 1860, deceased.