Capt. Benjamin F. Teets 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. Page 271

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

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CAPT. BENJAMIN F. TEETS, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of 
Liberty township, Beadle county, South Dakota, is a veteran of the 
Civil war and bears an honorable record for brave service in the cause 
of freedom and union, having served with distinction as an officer in 
the northern army. In the paths of peace he has also won an enviable 
reputation through the sterling qualities which go to the making of a 
good citizen. 

The Captain was born in Binghamton, Broome county, New York, September 
27, 1842, a son of Benjamin and Sarah A. (Van Patten) Teets. The 
father, a tinner and hardware dealer, went to New York city when our 
subject was in his fourth year and there engaged in business. The son 
attended the Grove street grammar school in that city until fourteen 
years of age when his parents removed to Chicago, Illinois. Soon 
afterward, however, they bought a farm north of that city, but not 
making a success of farming, the father sold the place at the end of 
two years, and taking his family, moved to Stoddard county, Missouri. 
In 1861, owing to abolition tendencies, they were forced by the 
guerrillas to leave that state, and they next located in Centralia, 
Illinois. 

At that place, Captain Teets enlisted as a private in Company C, 
Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but after three months in service 
with that company he secured his discharge and joined Company E, First 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, at Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was rapidly 
promoted through the different grades and while serving as lieutenant 
had command of his company long before he was commissioned captain. 
This service was under special order of General Starkweather, who after 
the battle of Chickamauga, commended him by favorable mention to the 
governor of Wisconsin for promotion to captain. He participated in the 
battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga Pittsburg Landing, and 
was with Sherman on the famous march to the sea. He was seriously 
wounded at Chickamauga, but as he was soon taken from the hospital and 
sent home, he was nursed back to health under home care. Being eager to 
rejoin his company, he returned to the front on crutches. He also 
received a slight wound at Perryville, and had a close call at Stone 
River, as his belt was cut off. On the expiration of his term of 
enlistment, he was mustered out at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 8, 
1864. 

After the war, Captain Teets went to Chicago, where he engaged in 
business as a contractor and builder until 1874, when he returned to 
Centralia, Illinois, being interested in the hardware business there 
until coming to South Dakota in 1882. Selecting the northwest quarter 
of section 4, Liberty township, Beadle county, he located thereon in 
the spring of 1883, and has since successfully engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. 

Captain Teets was married, July 12, 1866, to Miss Martha E. Cunningham, 
who was born in Perry county, Illinois in 1845, and they have become 
the parents of five children, namely: Harry C., a farmer of Milford 
township, Beadle county; Mamie L., wife of Don G. Medbury, sheriff of 
Beadle county; Arthur F., a resident of Sioux City, South Dakota, in 
the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad; M. Maude, wife of J. C. 
Milne, of Huron, South Dakota; and Grace, wife of C. M. Cass, a mail 
clerk of St. Paul, Minnesota. 

In political sentiment, Captain Teets was an ardent Republican until 
the national convention at St. Louis, in 1896, when he bolted and 
joined the Silver Republican party and was a delegate to the Republican 
state convention at Aberdeen and two years later attended the Populist 
convention as a delegate, also at Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1890 he 
was elected to represent the twenty-third district in the state 
legislature, and while a member of the house served on the following 
committees: ways and means, military affairs, and pairs. He also served 
as speaker pro tem many times. As a public official, citizen or soldier 
he has been found true to every duty, and justly merits the esteem in 
which he is held.