Benjamin F. Marsh

Benjamin Franklin Marsh (November 19, 1835 – June 2, 1905) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois in the late 19th century to early 20th century. He was also a lawyer, soldier, agriculture manager, stock raiser, and Illinois State Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner.

Benjamin Marsh was born in 1835^[1][2] in Warsaw, Illinois (Hancock County). He first studied law in Warsaw, and after attending law school was admitted to the bar in 1860. He continued to study law after the American Civil War until 1877, when he was elected Illinois State Representative.

Benjamin enlisted into the 16th Illinois Infantry Regiment as a private. He was later commissioned as a colonel. Benjamin received the Purple Heart when he received a piece of shrapnel in the foot. He participated in battles such as Shiloh and Antietam. Marsh "served continuously until January, 1866, having campaigned in every seceding state except Virginia and the two Carolinas; he received four gunshot wounds and carries in his body rebel lead".^[3] After the war ended he continued his law practices until 1877.

Benjamin Marsh first started his way into the Illinois Government office by becoming the Republican candidate for membership of the Illinois State Constitutional Convention.^[4]

In 1876 he was elected as a Republican to the 45th United States Congress, and served through the 46th and 47th Congresses. (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883)^[4]

In the 47th Congress, Marsh served as chairman of the Committee on Pensions. He failed to get reelected in 1882 to the 48th Congress.^[4]

IN 1888 Marsh was delegate to the Republican National Convention. In 1892 he was elected to the 53rd United States Congress. He served through the 54th, 55th, and 56th Congresses, serving from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1901. Starting with the 54th Congress in 1894, he became chairman on the Committee of the Militia, on which he served through the 56th Congress.^[4]

Marsh then was ran unsuccessfully for reelection to the 57th Congress, but was successful when he ran for election to the 58th and 59th, in which he served until his death.^[4]

• U.S. Representative (1877–1883) (1893–1901) (1903–1905)
• Lawyer
• Agricultural Manager
• 1889 State Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner
• Delegate to the Republican National Convention

Marsh died in office in 1905. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Warsaw, Illinois.

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

• United States Congress. "Benjamin F. Marsh (id: M000145)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Benjamin Franklin Marsh (Late a Representative from Illinois): Memorial Addresses. Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office. 1907.