Benjamin Shantz was a farmer and mill operator born September 21, 1811 to Christian Schantz and Hannah Paul. He married Lydia Kolb on November 5, 1833 and together the couple had eleven children; Josiah K. Shantz (1834-1913), Catharine Shantz (May 17, 1836-February 28, 1917), Hannah Shantz (April 1, 1838-August 20, 1841), Christian Shantz (January 20, 1840-?), Tobias Kolb Schantz, Abraham K. Shantz (September 20, 1844-?), Benjamin K. Shantz (December 5, 1846), Menno K. Shantz (January 31, 1849-July 6, 1888), Lydia Kolb Shantz (1851-1900), Sarah K. Shantz (April 1, 1854-April 10, 1878), and Enoch K. Shantz (October 7, 1856-May 25, 1888).

After Benjamin married Lydia he worked on his father's farm in Freeport, Ontario. In 1853, Benjamin and his family moved to Saugeen, Bruce County, Ontario. At some point, Benjamin owned a gristmill in Port Elgin, Ontario.

Lydia died on November 9, 1862.

Following the death of his wife Lydia, Benjamin remarried. He married Margaret Swinton on March 9, 1863. The couple had four children; Jacob S. Shantz (December 23, 1863-July 16, 1865), Israel S. Shantz (July 8, 1865-?), Isaac S. Shantz (February 17, 1867-?), and Rebecca S. Shantz (October 9, 1868-?).

Around 1864 or 1865 Benjamin and his family moved to Montgomery County, Missouri, and later to Dallas County, Missouri.

Benjamin died on November 9, 1868.