In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1869
From An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912)
HALL BENSON (1878) owns the northeast quarter of section 19 and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 17, Nordland township, and is one of the township's successful farmers. He has lived in Lyon and Lincoln counties nearly all his life.
Mr. Benson is a native of Iceland and was born November 10, 1869. He accompanied his mother, Sigerbjurg Benson, and his stepfather, Sigfinnur Peterson, to America in 1878. The first winter the family lived in Westerheim towTnship and then moved to Lincoln county, where they took a homestead claim. His mother and stepfather now reside in Minneota. On that place Hall lived until 1900; then he bought his Nordland township farm and returned to Lyon county. He raises Poland China hogs and grade cattle.
For four years Mr. Benson was assessor of Nordland township and he has served as clerk of school district No. 2 9. He is a member of the Icelandic Lutheran church and of the Modern Woodmen lodge.
Mr. Benson was married in Lincoln county July 12, 1897, to Ida Johnson. She is also a native of Iceland and is a daughter of John Johnson, of Minneota. Her mother is dead. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Benson. They are Bjorn M., Caroline, George, Vivian, Harold, Joseph and Francis D.
As printed in An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.