Benjamin Hershey

Who was Benjamin Hershey?

Benjamin Hershey was a lumber and farming magnate in Iowa and Nebraska during the middle to late 19th century.

He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a distant cousin of Milton S. Hershey, founder of The Hershey Company. Their common ancestor was Christian Hershe, who was born about 1664 in Bern, Switzerland, and died about 1720 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Hershey had four children: Sarah; Mary; Elizabeth; and Almira, who went on to become a prominent citizen of Los Angeles, California and owner of the Hollywood Hotel. He died in Muscatine County, Iowa.