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.
From An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912)
HANS BENSON (1882) is one of the big farmers of Shelburne township, where he has had his home for the past thirty years. The home place is the southwest quarter of section 5 and he also owns the northwest quarter of 9, the northwest quarter of 7, and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of 6, making a farm of 520 acres. The place is well improved and Mr. Benson has one of the finest homes in the township.
Our subject was born in Naes, Norway, October 13, 1846, a son of Brnt and Rognlie (Halborson) Benson. He attended the common schools of his native land until fourteen years of age, and thereafter until he was twenty-one years old he worked on the farm for his father. Mr. Benson came to America in the spring of 1868 and during the next three years worked at various occupations at La Crosse, Wisconsin. He moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1871, where he worked at farm labor until coming to Lyon county in the spring of 1882.
When he arrived in Lyon county Mr. Benson had only $320. To meet expenses he worked the first year as a section hand on the railroad between Tyler and Burchard. He experienced trying times in getting a start, but persevered and came upon more prosperous times. He purchased eighty acres of his present farm from the railroad company upon his arrival and from time to time added to his landed possessions until he now owns nearly a section of land.
Mr. Benson is a stockholder of the State Bank of Florence. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Florence and was formerly a trustee of the same. For three years he was a director of his school district and has several times served as road overseer.
The marriage of Mr. Benson to Christine Anderson occurred in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1883. Mrs. Benson was born in Norway. They are the parents of the following children: Bert, Aletta (Mrs. John Anderson), of Tyler; Randa (Mrs. Victor Anderson), of Florence; Clara, Adolph, Lena, Emma, Henry and Elmer.
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.
Named in this biography: John Anderson (b. 1874)
Their biographies name Hans Benson: Edward Anderson (b. 1848)
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.