Clarence Cecil Benefiel was born on a farm in Linn County, Missouri, November 23,
  1882, the son of William S. and Lucy Benefiel. He lived on the family farm until age
  20, when the families of his father and grandfather moved to Medicine Lodge. William
  S. bought a farm three miles southeast of Medicine Lodge. In 1904 he purchased the
  Hall Hardware Store, and the family moved into a home he acquired at 811 N. Walnut.
  The following year, November 29, 1905, Clarence was united in marriage to Nelly McCoy,
  daughter of John R. and Elizabeth McCoy, born in Medicine Lodge, July 18, 1885. They
  lived in a home at 317 N. Walnut, building a new home on the site in 1914. They have
  two sons, Lynn and Lloyd, who were also in the hardware business in Lyons, Kansas,
  until 1975, retiring after 45 years. There are three grandchildren and two great
  grandchildren.
     The first Benefiel Hardware was in the building now occupied by Forsyth Furniture.
  In 1908 the Benefiels purchased half of the block north and erected a new building
  for their business at 111 North Main. The firm was in continuous operation there
  until he and his brother, Frederick and Raymond, retired and sold the business in 1959.
  It is presently the Wright Brothers Hardware.
     Clarence was one of the organizers of the Barber County Savings and Loan Association
  when it started in 1919, served on the Board of Directors for many years, and was
  president a number of years. He was a charter member and president of the Lions Club,
  a member of the Chamber of Commerce, one of the board members of the Stockade Museum,
  a 50 year member of IOOF Lodge, a participant in the Medicine Lodge Indian Peace
  Treaty Pageant from its beginning in 1927 until recent years. He has been an elder 
  and a Sunday School Superintendent of the Presbyterian Church and helped build a new
  church edifice constructed in 1915. He lacked one day of being in World War I, 
  receiving his notice to report for duty, November 10, 1918, the day before the armistice
  was signed.
     Nelly Benefiel was active in church work, serving as president of the Presbyterian
  Church Missionary Society and teaching kindergarten Sunday School class.
     They observed their 65th wedding anniversary when Clarence was 88 and Nelly 85.
  Nelly died in 1971, having lived over 85 years in Medicine Lodge. Clarence died in
  1976, having resided here over 70 years.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 103 
     Submitted by: Lloyd J. Benefiel