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 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.

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".