Message #: |
660 |
Date Posted: |
11-01-2001 |
Bio: |
Benson, Berthin M. (History - 1850) |
Contact: |
Janet |
Email: |
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org |
Surnames: |
BENSON CLARK MILLS NELSON LARSON |
----Source: 1881
HISTORY OF NORTHERN WI, Chicago: The Western Historical Company, A.
T. Andreas, Proprietor (grammar as is), Pg. 251
BERTHIN M. BENSON, dealer in general
merchandise, Dorchester, Wis. Came to the village (of Dorchester)
in 1875. Born in Stavanger, Norway, March 15, 1850. His father was
a merchant at that place, and met some losses before his death,
which occurred on the 17th of October, 1859. Heaviest loss,
however, was on the 13th of March, 1860, when a great fire
destroyed what property the widowed mother had left, leaving them
penniless, but with the aid of friends, and with all the help the
little boys could render, they lived. Berthin went to work when
thirteen years old, as errand boy, at fourteen, in a grocery store,
and at sixteen, entered with a dry goods firm, where he remained
for six years, leaving Norway, May 16, 1872. He landed in Madison,
Wis., on the 11th of June, going to work for a farmer, until he
secured a place in the drug and grocery house of Clark Mills. In
1874, he established the firm of Nelson Benson, drugs and
groceries, Main Street, Madison, Wis. a year after dissolved
partnership, and came to Dorchester and built his store and house
in the woods. As the county grew, his trade increased, until with a
stock of $3,000, his business was $12,000 for 1880. In 1876,
Berthin sent for his mother and two younger brothers. They came and
staid but a short time, and getting homesick, went back, and in
1878, September 6, at fifty-nine years of age, his dear mother
died. His brothers, Iver and Bernt, returned to Wisconsin, and
stopped at Milwaukee, where Berthin had secured places for them.
After about one year and a half, they located at La Crosse, where
they now carry on a general variety store, in the firm name of
Benson Brothers, of which Berthin is a member, and will, in person,
take active work therein, September, 1881. His youngest brother,
Bernt, died March 28, 1881. The fourth brother, Emanuel, is living
in San Francisco, where he has been working in a milk range for
eight years. On the 21st of July, 1875, Mr. Benson married Miss
Johanna M. Larson, of Madison. They have one child, a daughter,
Gunda Marie. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod and has
served the public for three years as Town Clerk. In 1880, he was
appointed as Enumerator, in the town of Mayville, Clark County, of
the Third Census District of Wisconsin, by the Government.
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