TRUMBULL COUNTY OHIO - BIO: MCFARLAN, Benjamin L. (published 1888)
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History of Rush County Indiana
Brant & Fuller
Chicago
1888
Page 484 and 485



BENJAMIN L. MCFARLAN, whose portrait appears in this volume,is a farmer and stock-raiser 
of Orange Township, Rush Co., Indiana, and was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, October 14, 
x8~, and is the son of James and Jane (Kelly) McFarlan. The father was born in Mercer County, 
Pa., and was the son of a native of Scotland. He was a steam boat man by calling, but died 
in early life, and when our subject was only a small boy.  Our subject was reared by his 
maternal grandparents, who resided in Mercer County, Pa., but who removed to Indiana in 1853, 
and settled in Decatur County. 

Benjamin received a common school education incountry schools. He was born a poor boy, and in 
early life had many obstaclesto contend with. He was but a youth of seventeen years when the 
Civil War brokeout, and in August, of 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Indiana Infantry, 
and was the youngest of his company, in which company he served till 64, when he re-inlisted as 
a veteran volunteer of the same; and at the expiration of the three years, of the Seventh 
Infantry, the veterans of the Seventh, Fourteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth were consolidated 
and known as the Twentieth Infantry,and in which Regiment our subject served till he was 
mustered out of the service on the 14th of July, 1865, as Orderly Sergeant of his company.  

At the close of the war he returned to Rush County, and has since been engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, commencing with a very limited means, but by bard toil and energy he has been 
successful in the pursuit. He now ownsa fine and well-improved farm of eighty acres, and is one 
of the representative farmers of the County of Rush. He is a progressive and representative 
citizen.  In politics he is an ardent Republican, and has served as County Commissioner of Rush 
County for one term. In 1866, he was united in marriage with Susan Wood, daughter of Benjamin 
Wood. One child, adaughter, Alice by name, has blessed the marriage.