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BENJAMIN HARRISON WEST, SR married VELERA ELLEN HARRIS

Crossville Chronicle, reprinted in 1975, Looking Back from 1910 - In the picture above are the members of the class at City School, the year before the high school was opened. The picture was sent in by Mrs. Vivian Parham, of Ozone. Seated, left to right, are Baxter Burnett, Ned Snodgrass, Mable Jarrett, Myra Burnett, Eula Bishop, Lelah DeGoldia, Miss Wheeler, and Betty Davis, middle row, left to right, Otto Dunbar, Jonas Snodgrass, Alva Dotter, Ben West, Dave Southard, Kate Schlickesr, Miss Selby, Kate Davis, Ruby Dunbar, and Laura Kerley, back row, left to right, Elaine Burnett, Len Mar tin, James Adams, Frank Potter, Professor Crews, unknown, Adabell Murphy, Emily Dunbar, Dolly Bowden, Bertie Bandy, and Nell Andrews. (All names are before marriage).

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Oct. 2, 1913 - Benjamin H. WEST and Miss Velera HARRIS were married Thursday morning in the parlors of the Spring City hotel. Rev. B. M. Martin, of Harriman, officiated, using the beautiful and impressive service of the M. E. Church. Only members of the immediate family of the bride and a few near friends were present to witness the ceremony. The bride and groom arrived here Saturday and will make their home for the present with the parents of the groom. The groom is one of the most energetic and highly respected young men of the county, is a competent machinist and a young man worthy of the confidence and esteem of all good citizens. The bride is the daughter of Wm. HARRIS, who was for over a year marshal of Crossville, and is universally admitted to be the best Marshal our town ever had. The bride is highly esteemed by our people and a host of friends will join in wishing this estimable couple all the joys that can come to married life with just(?) enough of the trials to render the pleasures most enjoyable. -- Found glued to the inside back cover of a book of Velera HARRIS WEST- the wedding dates are handwritten in ink.

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Crossville Chronicle, June 1916 -- Ben H. WEST went to Chattanooga last week and returned Thursday on his motorcycle which he left there some weeks ago on account of the bad condition of the roads -- reprinted in Crossville Chronicle – Looking back

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1920 Janaury 12 census 1^st District, Crossville, Cumberland Co, TN, sheet 9(a?), ED 8

WEST, BENJAMIN H, head, male, white, age 27, married, can read, can write, TN, TN, TN, machinist, mechanic

WEST, VELERA, wife, female, white, age 26, married, can read, can write, KY, KY, KY

Next Page WEST, BENJAMIN JR, son, male, w hite, age 1, single, TN, TN, KY

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Crossville Chronicle, Dec 8, 1938, page 1 – BEN WEST ELECTED MASTER MASON MASONIC LODGE – Ben H. West – Worshipful Master elected ate regular December communications, Crossville Lodge #483 F.S.A.M for year 1939 … just notes about the article taken by Marilyn Bishop-West

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Crossville Chronicle, August 19, 1971, page 4c – WESTS SERVE OES 57 YEARS – Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin West were initiated into Amanda Chapter No. 4 Order of the Eastern Star May 16,1914, and have now been members for more than 57 years. More faithful members we do not have. Mrs. West served as Worthy Matron in 1918; and has served in many other stations, one of which was that of Chaplain she held for many years. She now substitutes in some office almost every meeting and does a wonderful job in any position. Uncle Ben has really been a member all his life. I have heard him say that his parents used to take him with them as far as they could, to the door. They left him in charge of the Sentinel. Amanda Chapter observed Friendship Night on Tuesday August 10. About 75 visitors and members were present. Amanda Chapter opened the meeting and the Worthy Matron welcomed everyone. Proper introductions were made including two Past-Grand Matrons, Mrs. Agnes Daveis and Ellyn Smith. Visiting officers were introduced and assumed their stations to perform the initiatory, after which Faye Garrison of Amanda No. 4 gave an address on "Who Rich Are We" saying that it is not material things that make us rich, but the friends we have and the kind of lives we live. We retired to fellowship hall and enjoyed refreshments of salads cake, coffee, and punch. The fellowship one with the other was enjoyed very much. [the following was under the photo] 57 YEAR MEMBERS — Worthy Matron Rachel Skidmore, left is shown with Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin West who have been members of Amanda Chapter No. 4, Order of the Eastern Star for 57 years

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Obituary – MR BENJAMIN HARRISON WEST, 79, passed away Friday, Aug. 11, (1979) at Cumberland Medical Center, where he had been in the Intensive Care Unit for eight days. Mr. West is survived by his wife, Velera Ellen Harris West, one son Paul West Sr., one grandson, Paul West, Jr, two granddaughters, Valera Marie West and Sue Ann West Flynt, and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two nephews, Jack West of this county, Clyde Beadle of Cleveland, and two nieces, Bernice Martin of Nashville and Fern Elmore of California. Services were held Sunday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Bilbrey's Funeral Home. Rev. Louis Johnson of the First United Methodist Church officiated with Rev. Joseph Nickell assisting. Members of the Masonic Lodge served as pallbearers. Interment was in City Cemetery with Masonic services, Lowell Potter officiating. Mr. West was a retired plumber and electrician and was a lifelong resident of this county, his family having moved here from Minnesota when Crossville was just beginning. "Uncle Ben," as he was affectionately known to many friends throughout the county, was a Mason for fifty-eight years and a member of the Eastern Star for fifty-eight years. As a member of the Masonic Lodge he was able to confer the degrees on his two sons, Ben Jr., who died in service in 1943 and Paul West; his grandson, Paul West Jr., and a nephew, Jack West. He also assisted in conferring the degrees on another nephew, Clyde Beadle. Mr. West considered this one of the greatest achievements of his life.

VELERA ELLEN HARRIS-WEST

Crossville Chronicle, Jan 1970 - Photo included - INSTALLING OFFICERS - Officers making installations at the January 17 meeting of the order of Eastern Star were Mrs. Jack West, Mrs. Viola Turner, Clarkrange, Mrs. Ben West, Sr. and Mrs. Camilla Thurman.

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Crossville Chronicle, December 16, 1976, MRS VELERA ELLEN WEST, 83, a resident of Cumberland County for the, past 64 years, passed away at the Cumberland Medical Center, Tuesday, December 14th. She made her home on Route 3. Mrs. West was born June 10, 1893 in Cumberland, Kentucky. Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of Bilbrey's with Reverend Joe Nickell speaking the final rites. Burial will follow in the City cemetery with members of the Masonic Lodge No. 483 serving as pallbearers. Mrs. West is survived by one son, Paul West, Sr., Crossville; three grand children and three great grandchildren, two sisters, Aileen Garmaney and Bill Harris, both of Atlanta, Georgia and one brother. Bilbrey Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Buried December 14, 1976.

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CARD OF THANKS - The family of Velera West wishes to thank all the friends for the prayers, food, and flowers during her sickness and death. A special thanks to Rev. Joe Nickols, Dr. Evans, the nurses on North Wing, Amanda Chapter #40.E.S., Masonic Lodge No. 483 and Bilbrey's Funeral Home.

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