Ben Daniels (pioneer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Daniels
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| Birth name | Benjamin Franklin Daniels |
| Born | November 4, 1852 Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | April 20, 1923 (aged 70) Tucson, Arizona |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1898 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Rough Riders |
| Battles/wars | Gray County War |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Laura Broaddus and Anna Evaline "Eva" (Stakebake) Seayrs |
| Other work | Marshal, sheriff |
Benjamin Franklin Daniels (born November 4, 1852 – died April 20, 1923) was an important figure in Arizona history. He was known for his work as a lawman in the American West. Ben Daniels served as the sheriff of Pima County and was also a member of the famous Rough Riders. He held positions like superintendent of the Yuma Territorial Prison and United States Marshal for the Arizona Territory.
Contents
Ben Daniels' Early Life
Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Daniels had a challenging childhood. He was born in Illinois on November 4, 1852. When he was very young, he lost his mother and several siblings to a serious illness.
Around 1863 or 1864, when Ben was about eleven, he moved to Kansas with his father and stepmother. By the age of sixteen, he was on his own. He worked as a cowboy in Texas and hunted buffalo in Kansas. Later, he faced some legal challenges early in his life.
Life in Dodge City
After some time, Ben Daniels moved to Dodge City. There, he became friends with well-known lawmen like Bat Masterson and Bill Tilghman. In 1884, Ben was appointed as the assistant marshal of Dodge City.
His time as assistant marshal ended in 1886. After that, he opened a saloon called the Green Front Saloon. A serious argument with a neighboring restaurant owner led to a shooting incident. Though the evidence was against him, Ben was found not guilty. After this, Ben Daniels decided to move on from Dodge City.
Ben Daniels' Marriages
Ben Daniels married Annie Laura "Annie" Broaddus on March 6, 1887, in Blue Springs, Missouri. The couple then moved to Lamar, Bent County, Colorado. In January 1888, Ben became a deputy sheriff there.
Sadly, Annie Laura Daniels passed away suddenly on August 26, 1906. She was visiting Ben's sister in Kansas. Ben married for a second time on July 15, 1908. His new wife was Anna Evaline (Stakebake) Seayrs, a schoolteacher who preferred to be called "Eva."
The Gray County Conflict
In the late 1880s, Ben Daniels became involved in the Gray County War. This was a dispute over where the main government office for Gray County should be located. Ben was one of the lawmen who took part in a major conflict in Cimarron on January 12, 1889.
During this conflict, several people were injured. Ben and some of his partners managed to escape the town. The remaining lawmen were surrounded and eventually had to surrender. After this, in 1893, Ben and Annie moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado. There, Ben continued his interests in gambling and sometimes worked as a lawman.
Ben Daniels and the Rough Riders
When the Spanish–American War began, 46-year-old Ben Daniels joined the First Volunteer U.S. Cavalry. This group was famously known as "The Rough Riders." They were led by Theodore Roosevelt. Ben was remembered as a brave soldier in this group.
Ben Daniels survived the Battle of San Juan Hill and returned to the United States as a hero. He was present when the Rough Riders were officially dismissed from service on September 15, 1898.
Ben Daniels' Work as a U.S. Marshal
After leaving the Rough Riders, Ben Daniels kept in touch with Theodore Roosevelt for many years. When Roosevelt became president in 1901, Ben asked him for a job.
First Appointment as U.S. Marshal
On January 8, 1902, President Roosevelt appointed Ben Daniels as the United States Marshal for the Territory of Arizona. This appointment needed to be approved by the U.S. Senate, which it was on January 30, 1902.
However, soon after, information about Ben's past legal challenges came out. This caused a lot of discussion. People either criticized him or praised him for his work as a lawman and war hero. The pressure became too much, and Ben Daniels resigned on February 25, 1902.
Superintendent of Yuma Prison
President Roosevelt still wanted to help Ben Daniels. He found a way to give Ben a job that didn't need Senate approval. On October 1, 1904, Ben Daniels was appointed as the Superintendent of the Territorial Penitentiary at Yuma. This was a prison in Arizona.
Second Appointment as U.S. Marshal
After three years, the discussion about Ben's past had mostly faded. President Roosevelt decided to try appointing Ben Daniels as U.S. Marshal for Arizona again. This time, he succeeded. On July 1, 1905, Ben Daniels was officially appointed as the United States Marshal for the Territory of Arizona.
After President Theodore Roosevelt left office in 1909, Ben Daniels was asked to resign from his Marshal position. He was offered another job as an Indian Agent, but he turned it down. Ben decided to return to working on his mining properties in Arizona.
Ben Daniels' Final Years
In 1914, at 62 years old, Ben Daniels ran for sheriff of Pima County, Arizona. He ran again two years later but was defeated both times. In 1920, Ben finally won the election and became the sheriff of Pima County. During this time, he had a few more adventures as a lawman.
In May 1922, Ben Daniels and his deputies investigated a train robbery near Tucson. They helped bring the people responsible to justice. This was one of the last major train robberies in Arizona. Later that year, Daniels was defeated in his bid for re-election. The 70-year-old Ben quietly went back to working on his mining claims.
Ben Daniels passed away on April 20, 1923, at the age of 70. He had a heart attack while sitting in his car in Tucson. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson.
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