Wow. The things I find out doing Stardust. A week ago 100 years ago, Miss Esther Cox married Archie Benson. THIS week, the new Mrs. Benson's father dragged the new Mrs. Benson's husband to court for assaulting him.

I knew the marriage lasted very briefly. Now I think I know why.

Wow. Makes her even more impressive. Leaving an abusive husband to raise a child by yourself and support yourself was a lot harder a 100 years ago.

Was this the same Esther Benson, aka "Mommy B", who taught piano lessons to kids a couple decades ago? I never took piano lessons from her but my big brothers both did. Her name rings a bell.

Yes. She was George Winston's first piano teacher. She taught my brothers and I as well. A waste of time for my older brother and I but Bart is musical. Lived in a little house behind the Presbyterian church with a big sign that said Northwestern Conservatory of Music. I sometimes amuse myself by telling people I studied at the Northwestern Conservatory of Music.

Hello there. My name is Thomas Martin, son of Phyllis Benson, daughter of Esther Benson and Archie E Benson. I am traveling through town on a nastalgia trip as my mother sister, and myself used to visit Miles City and my grandparents when we were younger. Of course both my mother and father are also gone now. I was just up to the County Cemetery visiting with Esther. What a 1st class cemetery! IN talking with the caretaker there he said that his brother and sister were Esther's students and were off at Ashland OR Festable this week playing there. Thought I would take a look at the local on line stuff and found this. I was aware of this accusation and also the denials though my Ancestry research and family records. The writer mentions that "her father" (Esther's) was involved. I would like to see that citation if possible. I don't find it here I must be overlooking it being new to this site. Thank you. [email protected]

George Winston, while considerably younger than I, is a friend of mine through Edna Stamp, his kindergarten teacher. When I was in high school my girlfriend took piano from Esther. I always considered her cool. The only person from around here that had as much influence on young people as Esther was Jim Michels, my dance instructor in the 6th grade, who really knew his way around a dance floor.

I took it directly from the Miles City Star. That's what I do. I read old issues of the Star and quote from them in a column called Stardust that runs daily in the Miles City Star. I did NOT post this in the Stardust column in the paper but, since I was student of Auntie B and my parents were good friends of hers, I found it interesting and thought others might as well. History is not always pretty. I loved Auntie B and was horrified to find out her husband was abusive.

I guess before believing this story I would want to know what really happened. Back then assault could be any number of things, none of which would be taken seriously today. People had manners then.

Also do you have info as to if and when Mrs. Benson divorced her husband?

She was my piano and organ teacher for a few years. A wonderful lady who will always hold a place in my heart.