My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN LANGSTON, farmer; P. O. West Milton; born on the place on which he now lives Jan. 16, 1829; is a son of Leonard and Frances (Christ) Langston; his early boyhood days were spent on the farm, but his father paid rather more attention to educating his children than was common with early settlers; April 11, 1848, he left home to learn the carpenter’s trade, his worldly possessions consisting of two suits of home-spun and 25 cents in money; he labored hard at his trade during the summer, and when winter drew her icy curtains round, and the shivering blasts of the north wind whistled through the chinks of the old log schoolhouse, Benjamin occupied a seat therein, and strove with might and main to penetrate the misty depths of knowledge, which was so difficult to delve down into in those days; in March, 1850, he began practicing his trade on his own account, which he continued in until March, 1851. March 29 of the same year, he was married to Rebecca Wheelock, a daughter of Lyman Wheelock, an old settler, who died Nov. 25, 1850; our subject has adopted and reared one daughter— Rosella; also adopted and partially reared four others, viz., John Westfall, E. G. Langston, M. Pearson, deceased, and Geo. W. Beck; the latter, however, only remained with him from his 16th year until he was 19 years old; Mr. Langston worked on leased land till March, 1853, at which time he purchased the old homestead farm for the sum of $2,300, paying $1,000 down; here he remained until August, 1860, when he sold his personal effects, moved to the Brush Creek settlement and, during the years 1861, 1862 and 1863, worked at his trade and discharged the duties of some of the township offices; in November, 1863, he returned to his farm, and May 2, 1864, was called on by Gov. Brough to accept a Second Lieutenantcy in Co. D, 147 O. N. G., which was soon transferred to the scenes of war, and placed in charge of Fort Ethan Allen, which was situated in Virginia, near Washington; his regiment participated in the battle before Fort Stevens, July 12,1864; his time was occupied in usual garrison duty style, having charge of the company a portion of the time; he was mustered out at Camp Dennison, Aug. 30, 1864; the home-guard companies were continued, of one of which he was elected Captain in July, 1865; he was mustered from the service of the State May 2, 1866, by proclamation of the Adjutant General of Ohio, thus ending his military career. Upon his return home he resumed his labors on the farm; he owns 83 acres of land, which is finely improved and in a high state of cultivation; Oct. 8, 1878, he was elected one of the County Infirmary Directors, which position he now holds; he and his estimable wife have been members of the Christian Church since August, 1851, and are exemplary Christian people; he is, and has been, an earnest worker in the cause of Sabbath schools, as well as a powerful champion in the cause of temperance; he has been remarkably healthy, never paying but $2 to a physician, with the exception of one case—a chronic complaint, which was completely eradicated by Dr. A. E. Duncan, of Yellow Springs; Mr. Langston has traveled extensively, having been over eleven different States, and visited many of the large cities in the Union.