Married Sarah Jane Cook Sep 28 1865; to this union, three children were born - Lola Luella, John Henry and Willis Alva. After Sarah Jane passed away in 1875, Benjamin married Emily Catherine ‏(McVeigh)‏. Benjamin and Catherine also had three children - Ray Lou, Harvey Bert and Sam Shirley.
He was a veteran of the Union Army in the Civil War. He enlisted on Oct. 14, 1861 and mustered in as a private on Nov. 2, 1861 in Company F, 14th Iowa Infantry. He was taken prisoner in the Battle of Shiloh ‏(Tennesse)‏ on April 6, 1862. According to a first-hand account of the Shiloh battle, "B. R. Smutz, was struck by a ball, which went through his canteen cutting it entirely off of him throwing it some feet from him, also cutting through his haversack, entered his pants pocket, striking a deck of cards glanced off, thus saving his life." After being taken prisoner, he was confined in a number of Southern prisons, including one in Macon, Georgia. After being exchanged, he went home for a while on furlough, then finished out the war with Co. F. He was promoted to Third Corporal on May 1, 1863 and Second Corporal on July 16, 1864. He mustered out Nov. 8, 1864.
Was a charter member of Baptist church in Hillsboro, IA. Was member of John L. Jordan Post of the Grand Army of the Republic & for several years was Commander of the post. When he passed away at age 96 yrs, 1 month, he was the last Post member and the last one to die of his siblings.
Source: Find A Grave online.