Torsten (Helgesen) Benson (1854 - 1937)

Born Jul 1854 in Nord-Aurdal, Oppland, Norway

Husband of Thuri (Jacobsen) Benson — married 25 Dec 1876 in Benson, Swift, Minnesota, United States

Died 9 Apr 1937 at age 82 in Appleton, Swift, Minnesota, United States

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Biography

Thomas Benson was born in Norway and emigrated to the United States at age 11. He married Dora Jacobsen in Benson, Minnesota, when he was 22. They made their home in Benson for five years before moving to a homestead in Lac qui Parle County near Appleton. They moved into Appleton in 1885, where Thomas started a store--the fourth in the village at that time. They lived over the store until 1889 when they built a home on what became Miles street, which was later owned and occupied for many years by their son Elmer.

Thomas served on the village council for three years and was active in the Norwegian Lutheran Church.^[1]

Thomas died at age 82 and is buried in Appleton Cemetery.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ "Thomas H. Benson Opened Fourth Store to Operate in Village in 1885," Appleton Press 60th Anniversary Edition, May 10, 1940, p. 53.
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/239900555/thomas-helgesen-benson: accessed 08 November 2023), memorial page for Thomas Helgesen Benson (3 Jul 1854–9 Apr 1937), Find a Grave Memorial ID 239900555, citing Appleton Cemetery, Appleton, Swift County, Minnesota, USA.48809896).

• "Norway Baptisms, 1634-1927", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4MH-BPP : 23 June 2020), Torsten, 1854.
• "Minnesota State Census, 1885", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQFJ-JV5 : Tue Oct 03 12:35:12 UTC 2023), Entry for T H Benson, 1885.
• "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9Q9-HTQ : Fri Oct 06 19:03:37 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas H Benson and Dora Benson, 1900.