Benjamin F. Burnett
     Son of William and Margaret Burnett
     Born April 9, 1838 in Tazewell County Illinois
Married Clara McGrew January 31, 1864 in Peoria county Illinois. ​

---

Ben enlisted on May 1, 1864 as a second Lieutenant of Company C , 139th, Illinois Volunteer Infantry he was honorably discharged on October 28, 1864. He reinlisted on February 10,1865 and was mustered in as Captain of Company C, 148th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. 
He was discharged on September 5, 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.    
Mr. Burnett received letters of thanks from President Lincoln and the Secretary of War Stanton. 

In 1879 Ben and his family moved to Fort Collins.  He was instrumental in the founding of LuLu City, Pearl, Manhattan, Teller and other mining communities in Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming. He invested in mines, but mainly provided supplies to the miners who worked the different mine districts which he promoted. 

Ben and Clara had six children: LuLu, Frank, Pearl, Arthur, Maud and Zoa. He and his family annually spent their summers in their tree embowed cottage "Laughalot" on the banks of the swift flowing Cache La Poudre river.  

Some of the information about B.F. Burnett I covered on my  page LuLu City. 

Benjamin Burnett is the man in the center of this photo taken in front of his story in Fort Collins Colorado. Cap'n had stores in LuLu City, Teller City, Pearl, Manhattan and elsewhere
Captain Benjamin Burnett passed away on Wednesday May 15, 1922 in San Diego California. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett spent the winter in a milder climate. Both became ill at the same time, and despite the best medical skill and care both passed on. 

The elusive metal that the ol' times searched for

Captain Burnett and Family

The location of this photo is not known, however I think it might be near their cabin on the Poudre, Laugh-a-lot..
I would surmise that Ben's wife, Clara is seated on the left, next Frank, his wife(?), Arthur, (?) in front of Frank is the oldest girl LuLu (?) with four unidentified women, then Ben on the right. My assumptions only...

   

Laugh a Lot Cabin on the Poudre

This building was originally a hotel in the mining town of Manhattan Colorado.