Benj. F. Walden - From History of Hope, North Dakota "Hope of the prairie: 75th anniversary, 1882-1957"

BENJAMIN F. WALDEN Born in McDaryville, Indiana, Jan. 2, 1842, Mr. Walden come from Piper City, Illinois to Tower City, D. T. in 1881. In 1884 he came to Hope and became the owner of a quarter section of land in Broadlawn Twp. He was elected Sheriff of the County for two terms, 1885-89. "Uncle Ben", as he was known to everyone, never married. He was a Civil War Veteran (1862 to 1865 PVT Indiana) and was the first Vice-Commander of the George P. Foster Post No. 22 G.A.R. and was a faithful member up to the time of his death. "Uncle Ben" made a very liberal donation to the Congregational Church of Hope shortly before his death, and also at one time donated a fence around the Hope Cemetery, after a prairie fire had destroyed the previous one. He died in a hospital in Fargo in 1925, following a lingering illness and was buried in the Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Jessie Read, a niece, was his only relative to come to his funeral.