To look at the handwriting of folks who are kin to you in a history museum puts one in a category that very few people are in. Besides the letter of Jessie Benton, there was a letter written by her father, Senator Thomas Hart Benton, who was the editor of the St. Louis Enquirer. Jessie was a prolific writer and a expansionist. Her nephew was the famous artist, Philip Boileau, whose images of beautiful women prepared the way for the work of my late sister, Christine Rosamond Benton. I believe the lithograph above titled ‘Jessie’ was inspired by the daughter of garth Benton, the cousin of the famous artist, Thomas Hart Benton. Thomas’ work needs to be included in the exhibit at the Portland Historic Society. That my adopted veteran son is a part of this history, is ironic.

Jon Presco

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hart_Benton_(painter)

http://www.cardcow.com/c/68524/artist-signed-philip-boileau/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bonneville

While in Missouri, Bonneville was inspired…