Benjamin Franklin DEAN

                   Benjamin was born in Greenville Ohio and moved to Illinois when he was10,later to Iowa and then to Kansas.  At the outbreak of the Border War,hewas a resident of Pottawatomie County, Kansas.  He enlisted in CompanyA,Fiften Kanses Cavalry, known as the "Jayhawkers" and served as ascoutwith "Buffalo bill" Cody and other famous characters inhistory. Mrs. Dean, formerly Nancy M. Armstrong was born on a farmnearWilliamsport, Ind.  After living in Iowa for a time her family movedtoPottawatomie County, Kansas. The couple were married by Rev. James Wimberly on Feb 26, 1866.Afterseven years in Kansas they moved to Los Angeles arriving on thePacificCoast in 1873.  In 1876 they came to Seattle which has been theirhomesince that time.  The family residence is at 2816 Fifteenth AvenueWest.The children all of whom were present at the party were:  James C.Deanof Hoquiam, Fred C. Dean, Orville J. Dean, Jesse M. Dean,  Mrs. JohnH.Johnston, Mrs James F. Purvis and Mrs. Charles C.Hickman.

We have in our possession a certificate of marriage from CullisonStateBank, Cullison Kansas that declares that Benjamin F. Dean and Nancy M.Armstrong were married on February 26, 1866.  They celebrated their Golden 50th wedding anniversay on Feb. 26. They were both Christians andhave shared one abode for 50 years and made it a house of God as well as a residence.  They had 7 children and 20 grandchildren at the time of the party.  Benjamin moved to Los Angeles in 1874 and was a charter member of the church there.  In 1876 the family moved to Washington and were instrumental in starting a study Bible school near their new home.
Cassie Weeks wrote in high school about their marriage:
They were a perfect couple who celebrated 50 years together in 1916.  They had seven children and were happy.  Benjamin did install the first telephone in his county wso he could remain close to his sons.  Much of what this couple did pertained to their famjily; and that is why I believe they were so content.