BURIAL PLACE OF EZRA TAFT BENSON

​FRANKLIN COUNTY SUGAR COMPANY

Location: Between 1400 and 1600 South on Highway 91. West Side of highway​

After many years of struggle, false starts, litigation and delays, the sugar mill first began slicing beets in October of 1922. Previously, beets were processed in Lewiston and Ogden. The first beet contract to a Preston grower was issued March 24, 1898 to Austin Hollingsworth to the Ogden plant. He contracted to raise two acres of beets at $3.50 per ton. According to the contact, "before any beets were received, they must each have the tops closely and squarely cut off at the base of the lower or bottom leaf. Beets must not weigh over 3 1/2 pounds each nor contain less than 12 percent sugar and must have purity co-efficient of not less than 80 percent." For many years the plant purchased 75,000 to 100,000 tons of beets yearly, but the acreage continued to go down in the 1930s and 1940s. During the peak of the season, the Franklin county plant employed approximately 350 people. Capacity was 1,500 tons daily. 

​                                                                                                                          -Information and picture from The Hometown Album

Location:  Whitney Cemetery, From Highway 91, turn east on 1400 South; turn north at the Whitney Cemetery sign; turn left on the second lane; drive to the end; stone is on your left.

Inscription:

Ezra Taft Benson, August 4, 1899 to May 30, 1994.  Ordained an Apostle, October 7, 1943.  U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1953-1961.  Flora Smith Amussen, July 1, 1901 to August 14, 1992.  Married September 10, 1926. Thirteenth President, The church of Jesus Christ of latter-Day saints, November 10, 1986 to May 30, 1994.

Whitney Area