Benjamin F. Cruzen was the youngest son of Hervey Cruzen and Asenath Walthall, and was born in Greene County, Ohio. He migrated with his parents and siblings to Mahaska County, Iowa in 1849.
Benjamin was the last surviving member of Co. E, 33rd Iowa Infantry. He enlisted on July 21, 1862 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and fought with the 33rd through campaigns in Arkansas, including the Battle of Helena known by the soldiers as "Hell in Arkansas". He was severely wounded April 30, 1864 at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry. Originally listed on company reports as killed in action, he was later found to have been taken prisoner and spent ten months in the Confederate prison at Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas. He was repatriated and subsequently mustered out May 22, 1865 at Davenport, Iowa.
Following the war, he returned to Mahaska County and, on October 12, 1866, married Harriett Mary Lamborn, daughter of Jacob Lamborn and Polly Hollister. Harriett was his step-sister (Polly had remarried in 1860 to Benjamin's widowed father Hervey after Jacob's death).
Benjamin and Harriett reared four sons - Marion Jacob (MJ), John Lewis, Carlton Benjamin, and George Thomas, plus a daughter Cora Asenath.
Benjamin was the last surviving member of Co. E, 33rd Iowa Infantry. He enlisted on July 21, 1862 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and fought with the 33rd through campaigns in Arkansas, including the Battle of Helena known by the soldiers as "Hell in Arkansas". He was severely wounded April 30, 1864 at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry. Originally listed on company reports as killed in action, he was later found to have been taken prisoner and spent ten months in the Confederate prison at Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas. He was repatriated and subsequently mustered out May 22, 1865 at Davenport, Iowa.
Following the war, he returned to Mahaska County and, on October 12, 1866, married Harriett Mary Lamborn, daughter of Jacob Lamborn and Polly Hollister. Harriett was his step-sister (Polly had remarried in 1860 to Benjamin's widowed father Hervey after Jacob's death).
Benjamin and Harriett reared four sons - Marion Jacob (MJ), John Lewis, Carlton Benjamin, and George Thomas, plus a daughter Cora Asenath.
Benjamin F. Cruzen was the youngest son of Hervey Cruzen and Asenath Walthall, and was born in Greene County, Ohio. He migrated with his parents and siblings to Mahaska County, Iowa in 1849.
Benjamin was the last surviving member of Co. E, 33rd Iowa Infantry. He enlisted on July 21, 1862 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and fought with the 33rd through campaigns in Arkansas, including the Battle of Helena known by the soldiers as "Hell in Arkansas". He was severely wounded April 30, 1864 at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry. Originally listed on company reports as killed in action, he was later found to have been taken prisoner and spent ten months in the Confederate prison at Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas. He was repatriated and subsequently mustered out May 22, 1865 at Davenport, Iowa.
Following the war, he returned to Mahaska County and, on October 12, 1866, married Harriett Mary Lamborn, daughter of Jacob Lamborn and Polly Hollister. Harriett was his step-sister (Polly had remarried in 1860 to Benjamin's widowed father Hervey after Jacob's death).
Benjamin and Harriett reared four sons - Marion Jacob (MJ), John Lewis, Carlton Benjamin, and George Thomas, plus a daughter Cora Asenath.
Benjamin was the last surviving member of Co. E, 33rd Iowa Infantry. He enlisted on July 21, 1862 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and fought with the 33rd through campaigns in Arkansas, including the Battle of Helena known by the soldiers as "Hell in Arkansas". He was severely wounded April 30, 1864 at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry. Originally listed on company reports as killed in action, he was later found to have been taken prisoner and spent ten months in the Confederate prison at Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas. He was repatriated and subsequently mustered out May 22, 1865 at Davenport, Iowa.
Following the war, he returned to Mahaska County and, on October 12, 1866, married Harriett Mary Lamborn, daughter of Jacob Lamborn and Polly Hollister. Harriett was his step-sister (Polly had remarried in 1860 to Benjamin's widowed father Hervey after Jacob's death).
Benjamin and Harriett reared four sons - Marion Jacob (MJ), John Lewis, Carlton Benjamin, and George Thomas, plus a daughter Cora Asenath.
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Veteran, Co. E., 33rd Infantry of Iowa
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