Ben Gunn's family settled in Arcadia, Kansas, in 1879. Young Ben had a strong desire to see more of the world and to educated himself. He had an amazing memory and from boyhood entertained friends and neighbors with his talent for public speaking. After completing his studies, he became a teacher and a lawyer, but his true calling was creative writing. He loved to write poetry. He wrote, in rhyming verse, biographies of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. He traced the family tree back many generations to Ireland and Scotland.
Ben loved to travel and gained the distinction of having visited every county of every state in the U.S. His book of poetry, travel journals, and speeches was entitled The Son of a Gunn.

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Holly Reed has taken inspiration from Ben Gunn's writings and the resulting songs not only tell a beautiful story, but also breathe new life into work that might otherwise have been forgotten.

     "The Times Still Lives"
was printed at the top of each issue of the Arcadia Times and demonstrated Ben Gunn's stubborn defiance to those who would like to see him silenced. He spoke his mind and often championed the underdog in oppostion to those with money, power and influence. Ben Gunn was a teacher, lawyer and community leader, in addition to being a poet, author, and editor of the Arcadia Times.