Benjamin Franklin Elmer Marsh, division freight agent of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway, was born in Topeka, June 25, 1869. He is a son of William Toler Marsh, a native of Ohio, who removed from Greensburg, Decatur county, Indiana, to Topeka, in 1868, where he still resides and where he has been engaged as a contractor and builder. He gave loyal service to the cause of the Union during the Civil war, first as a private, then as lieutenant, and finally as captain of his company. The mother of Benjamin F. E. Marsh bore the maiden name of Nancy Poague, and was a native of Indiana. She was first married to Richard Scott, who died in Andersonville prison during the Civil war. They became the parents of two daughters, Alice, and Mrs. Ida Righter, both residents of Topeka. Later she married William Toler Marsh, and to their union were born four children: Benjamin F. E., John William, Mrs. Minnie Catharine Cooper, and Mrs. Jessie Lamott, all of Topeka, except the last named sister, who lives in Oelwein, Iowa. The mother died a few years ago, aged sixty-seven years.

Benjamin F. E. Marsh was five years old when his parents returned to Greensburg, Ind., remaining there until he was sixteen years of age, when they again returned to Topeka. He was educated in the public schools of Greensburg, Ind., and in the Topeka High School, with a supplementary course in a business college. During the latter part of his youth he worked with his father at the carpenter's trade, but at the age of seventeen, or on Dec. 16, 1886, he entered the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad Company and has been in their continuous service twenty-five years. He began as a junior mail clerk in the auditor's office and received various promotions and held various positions until in 1894, when he was transferred to the general freight office as tariff clerk. Later he became rate clerk, and in 1903 was made chief tariff clerk. On July 15, 1904, he became chief clerk of the general freight office, which position he held until Feb. 11, 1910, when he was made division freight agent for the Topeka territory, his present position. Integrity and perseverance invariably win recognition and lead to success and it may well be a source of pride to Mr. Marsh that throughout his long period of service for this company, his conduct has ever been such as to merit and receive the confidence and trust of his employers, expressed in his successive promotions.

Mr. Marsh was married April 20, 1897, to Miss Mary Engler, also a native of Topeka, where she was born in 1870. They have two children: Ruth Catharine, born Jan. 9, 1900, and Benjamin Engler, born Dec. 31, 1901. Mr. Marsh gives his political allegiance to the Republican party. He is a member of the Topeka Commercial Club and of the Young Men's Christian Association.