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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
BENJAMIN F. TODD, who for over thirty years has been a resident of Spring Creek Township, is located on section 10, where he has a fertile farm and comfortable home. Mr Todd was born in Darke County, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1827, and is a son of Noah and Mary (Barton) Todd. Noah Todd was a distiller, and was accidentally scalded to death in the year 1827. His wife died in 1855. The subject of this sketch, at the age of nineteen months, together with his brother William, two years his senior, was bound out to a Mr. Edward Barton to remain until they reached their majority. Mr. Barton died soon after, and the boys were turned over to his son, William Barton, of Wayne County, Ind. Here the boys remained until they reached the age of twenty-one years, when each of them received $100 cash and a horse, saddle and bridle. In 1852 Mr. Todd came to Mahaska County, whither his brother had preceded him two years before, and has remained here ever since, save three years of his service in the Union army. He enlisted, Aug. 5, 1862, in Co. K, 33d Iowa Vol. Inf., Capt. McIntosh Commander, and went into camp at Oskaloosa, thence to Benton Barracks at St. Louis, Mo., thence into Kentucky, and followed all the wanderings of his regiment, participating in all its engagements. he met the enemy at Yazoo Pass, Helena and Little Rock, thence went on the Camden expedition, including the battles at Poison Creek, Prairie d'Anne and Jenkin's Ferry. After these he was removed to New Orleans, and from there to Mobile, Ala., where, with the command, he was thirteen days and nights under a continnous fire from the enemy. Following this the regiment was ordered to Mexico, to the Rio Grande River, as a portion of the Army of Observation, and to secure a lot of artillery which the rebel General Kirby Smith, had disposed of to Maximilian, at that time Emperor of Mexico. The guns were secured, and after a stay of six weeks the regiment was ordered to New Orleans to be mustered out. After his discharge from service Mr. Todd returned home, and has since been engaged in farming. He was married, Sept. 11, 1850, to Miss Lurana Barton, who was born March 15, 1828, and is a daughter of Andrew and Celia (Boswell) Barton. There were six children born to this union: William H.; Elizabeth and Ann E., deceased; twins, who died in infancy, and Leander J. Mr. Todd has sixty-eight acres of land, all of which is in an excellent state of cultivation and well improved, and from its few but fertile acres he reaps each year a bountiful harvest of golden grain. His residence, barn and other buildings are of the best character. Politically Mr. Todd is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, believing them to be more conducive of good than those of any other political organization. Personally he is a man greatly esteemed by friends and acquaintances for his business integrity and correct habits.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy