Ben E. Saunders Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 671-672

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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BEN E. SAUNDERS. Among the many prosperous and prominent younger 
members of the farming community of Hanson county may well be named the 
gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. His home is situated on 
section 8, Spring Lake township, of the above named county. He is 
engaged in farming, and though not extensively, is making a comfortable 
living and is recognized as one of the solid men of the community. He 
is possessed of unbounded energy and enterprise, and has arrived at his 
present comfortable circumstances by the exercise of earnest industry 
and the strictest honesty. 

Mr. Saunders is a native of Winnebago county, Illinois, his natal day 
being February 28, 1870. His parents, Samuel and C. Emelia (Peck) 
Saunders, were both born in the Empire state and, when quite young, 
moved with his parents to Illinois, were married and for several years 
worked a small farm in Winnebago county. In the spring of 1882, the 
father went to Hanson county, South Dakota, procured the farm now owned 
by our subject and began to cultivate and improve it, and his family 
joined him in the fall of the same year. Here he made his home until 
his death, which occurred in the year 1891. Samuel and Emelia Saunders 
were the parents of a family of three sons: Herbert, a farmer in 
Fairview township; Ben E., the subject of this sketch; and Frank, a 
farmer and teacher of the public schools. The last two named, after the 
death of their father and until the fall of 1897, conducted the farm in 
common, but then divided their interests, Ben E. occupying the home 
farm. 

Our subject was married, in July, 1898, to Miss Flora Haskins, who was 
born in Wisconsin, November 16, 1875. In 1882, she came to Dakota with 
her parents, D. F. and Ann Haskins, and settled in Miner county, and 
for several years was engaged in teaching public schools. They have now 
a very pleasant and remunerative farm property and a home that is full 
of good cheer and happiness. A decided taste for reading and music is 
manifested by their library, which is of unusual size and character in 
this western farming community. Mr. Saunders is a Republican in 
political views, and is at present a member of the township board. He 
is also a stanch advocate of the policies of prohibition and equal 
suffrage.