Frances Benoit was the sixth child of Mary Ann Dondanville and Lester Benoit. One source reports her date and place of birth as 1873 in LaSalle County, Illinois, another as August 22, 1872 in Webster County, Iowa. This researcher believes the Illinois birth to be correct. Records indicate that the Benoit family did not move to Iowa until 1874.

Frances Benoit married William Charles Cavanaugh from Albia, Iowa sometime in the early 1890s. They made their home in Gilmore City where Cavanaugh ran a livery stable. There were ten children born to Frances and William Cavanaugh. Clyde, the eldest, was born about 1894; Loretta in 1895; Charlotte, 1996; Raymond, 1897; and Bernice in 1901. The dates of birth of the youngest five children are not known. William died in Gilmore City in 1940. Frances died in Carroll, Iowa December 29, 1966.

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