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    Benson, David

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1873-75 (District 34); House 1877 (District 34)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic

    Counties Served:  Renville

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 8/23/1841
    Birth Place: Nordland
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: Norway
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Vicksburg
    Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

    EDUCATION

    Schools in Norway; At Least Elementary School;
    Agricultural College, Norway; Attended College; 3 years

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Government: Emmet, Minnesota (Township Assessor); 1??? to 1???
    School Board/Administration: School District 33, Minnesota (School District Director); 1??? to 1???
    Judge: Renville County, Minnesota (Justice of the Peace, 20 years); 18?? to 1???
    U.S. Executive Branch: United States Census (District Census Enumerator); 1880 to 1880
    U.S. Executive Branch: United States Census (District Census Enumerator); 1890 to 1890
    U.S. Executive Branch: United States Census (District Census Enumerator); 1895 to 1895
    U.S. Executive Branch: United States Census (District Census Enumerator); 1905 to 1905
    U.S. Executive Branch: United States Census (District Census Enumerator); 1910 to 1910

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Carrie Knuteson (married on September 16, 1870)
    Children: Eight children: Bell, Louisa, Clara, Mary, Anna, Emma, and Dinah (daughters); Benjamin (son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He came to Rochester, Minnesota in 1857 or 1867. He moved to Benson, Renville County, Minnesota in 1870 or 1871.

    "The gentleman was first elected on the Democratic ticket, the next time he ran on the Republican ticket and was elected, the third time, Independent, with like success, and last fall he whitewashed them on all three of the tickets and came in with flying colors." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 29)

    Total Days Served: 1463

    SESSIONS SERVED

    19th Legislative Session (1877)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/7/1876
    Residence: Gordon
    Term of Office: 1/2/1877 to 1/7/1878
    Counties Represented: Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: See Party Notes Party Notes: "The gentleman was first elected on the Democratic ticket, the next time he ran on the Republican ticket and was elected, the third time, Independent, with like success, and last fall he whitewashed them on all three of the tickets and came in with flying colors." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 29)
    Committees:
    • Public Lands
    • Tree Culture and Fuel (Chair)

    17th Legislative Session (1875)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/3/1874
    Residence: Vicksburg
    Term of Office: 1/5/1875 to 1/3/1876
    Counties Represented: Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent-No Party Affiliation Party Notes: "The gentleman was first elected on the Democratic ticket, the next time he ran on the Republican ticket and was elected, the third time, Independent, with like success, and last fall he whitewashed them on all three of the tickets and came in with flying colors." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 29)
    Committees:
    • Immigration
    • Public Lands

    16th Legislative Session (1874)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/4/1873
    Residence: Vicksburg
    Term of Office: 1/6/1874 to 1/4/1875
    Counties Represented: Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican Party Notes: "The gentleman was first elected on the Democratic ticket, the next time he ran on the Republican ticket and was elected, the third time, Independent, with like success, and last fall he whitewashed them on all three of the tickets and came in with flying colors." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 29)
    Committees:
    • Immigration (Chair)

    15th Legislative Session (1873)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 34
    Elected: 11/5/1872
    Residence: Vicksburg
    Term of Office: 1/7/1873 to 1/5/1874
    Counties Represented: Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic Party Notes: His party affiliation was provided by The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota, 1873.
    Committees:
    • Banks
    • Rules and Joint Rules

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "David Benson." The History of Renville County, Minnesota. Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1916, p. 1139.

    "Benson, David." The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota. St. Paul: Press Printing Company, 1873, p. 21.

    "Hon. David Benson." Memoirs of the State Officers; and of the Nineteenth Legislature of Minnesota, by C.L. Hall. Minneapolis: Johnson & Smith, p. 29.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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