After about three years at home, Benjamin met and married Anna Marsh, then only about 18 years old.   Anna’s parents and grandparents had lived in Lycoming County for a number of years and most of the Marshes are buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Elimsport.   In the 1870 census, Benjamin, a blacksmith, and Anna, keeping house, are shown living in the Elimsport area with their two children, John and Sarah.

Property values continued to rise.   In 1873, Benjamin paid $30 to George Bailey for a 50x50-foot property in Elimsport on the road to Williamsport, and in 1875 he paid $270 to Daniel Kindt for a larger property of 200x200 feet on Elimsport’s Main Street.   In 1876, Benjamin sold the smaller property to his older brother William for $235, and in 1879 he sold him the larger property for $1,100.  

In 1880, the family is shown living in Turbot Township in Northumberland County about 13 miles from Elimsport.   The children shown are John, Lilla, William and Gertrude, so apparently Sarah died very young.

Anna's grandfather Jacob Marsh had died some years back and left a will, but the value of the estate was insufficient to pay his debts.   So his 39+ acres of property with buildings were put up for public sale and Benjamin Fegley was the highest bidder at $2,250.   This property was located along the public road leading from Elimsport to Allenwood.   By the end of the following year, he and Annie M. had turned around and sold this property for over $3,000.   It becomes clear that Benjamin and Annie had a knack for real estate.

But then, their fortunes turned.   Annie was only about 40 years old when she died on February 24, 1888.   Her youngest child Carrie was not yet 6 years old. On November 4, 1890, Benjamin, 49 years old, filed for a disability pension under the Act of June 27, 1890 citing his military service, saying that at times he was wholly unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of rheumatism and its effect on his eyesight. He was then living at 320 West Jefferson St., Williamsport, PA.   The affidavit is signed Benjamin “Fagley”.

On May 6, 1892, Benjamin filed for a reissue of his pension, citing his military service, saying he was now unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of affection of eyes, catarrh in the head, partial deafness in both ears contracted about 1884, and that he was a pensioner under Certif. # 734285, living at Milton, Northumberland Co., PA.   Again it was signed Benjamin “Fagley”.

On January 31, 1895 Benjamin, then 54 years old, married widow Mary Jane (Laudenslager) Love, eleven years younger than he, in Williamsport.   She became known as Jennie Fegley, and her name was to appear on several subsequent affidavits as claimant for Benjamin.

In 1896, he again filed for an increase in his pension, citing military service, saying he should have a pension increase since the amount he was getting, $6 per month, was too low and not commensurate with the extent of his disability from rheumatism and affection of sight, catarrh, and rupture. He was then living at #12 West Canal St, Williamsport, PA, and again signed it Benjamin “Fagley”.

His next pension affidavit, in 1898, tells us a bit more.   It states that on August 15, 1896 while at his work in the Boiler Works of E. Keeler Company at Williamsport he incurred a right inguinal hernia from old age and heavy work, once again signing as Benjamin “Fagley”.   A supporting affidavit from a doctor said it was caused by strain while lifting, he being a blacksmith by trade. Another affidavit from a friend says the injury occurred at the Keeler Co. boiler yards while he was rolling a boiler and was caused by heavy lifting.

In other papers in 1903, a doctor’s affidavit says that Benjamin was 62, 6' tall, 180 pounds, fair complexion, blue eyes, gray hair, and occupation blacksmith.

Finally, on March 16, 1904 he was totally disabled by reason of a paralytic stroke and an affidavit dated June 7, 1904 requested an increase in his pension from $8 per month, signed with a mark (X).   Benjamin died in 1906.

Family of Benjamin Fegley

Benjamin Fegley born abt 1841 in Lycoming Co., PA, died 24 Jul 1906 in Williamsport, PA, married abt 1866 to Anna M. Marsh born abt 1848 in Lycoming Co., died 24 Feb 1888 in S. Williamsport

Children:

1. John Wesley Fegley born 4 Oct 1867 in Elimsport, PA, died Apr 1954 in Cedar Rapids, IA, married abt 23 Nov 1900 in Cedar Rapids to Frances M. Holan born 19 Feb 1878 in Chelsea, IA, died

12 Jun 1965 in Cedar Rapids

2. Sarah J. Fegley born 1869 in Pennsylvania, died before 1880 in PA

3. Luella Fegley born 22 Jul 1871 in Pennsylvania

married John C. Ault

4. William E. Fegley born abt 1873 in Pennsylvania, died before 1899 in PA

5. Gertrude Fegley born abt 1878 in Pennsylvania, died before 1899 in PA

6. Carrie M. Fegley born 22 Jul 1882

2^nd wife of Benjamin Fegley:

married 31 Jan 1895 in Williamsport to Mary Jane Laudenslager Love born 11 Jul 1851 Northumberland Co. near Milton, died abt Jan 1938