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Fayette County, Iowa  

 Biography Directory

Portrait & Biographical Album of Fayette County Iowa

Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of

Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County

Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago

March 1891

~ Page 434~ August Benson     August Benson, senior member of the firm of Benson Bros., was born near Warberg, Sweden, April 8, 1815, and received his education at his mother's knee. When seventeen years of age he began to learn the boiler maker's trade at which he served an apprenticeship of nearly five years, but on account of the noise affecting his hearing he was forced to abandon that occupation and in 1869 came to the United States. The year succeeding his arrival he spent upon a farm near McGregor, and was then for four years porter in a hotel. The succeeding three years of his life he spent in driving a team, after which he was employed as shipping clerk in a wholesale house in McGregor for about four years, when he resigned his position in 1882, and started in business for himself in Elgin, where he has since carried on operations as a general merchant. He began business with a small stock which he has enlarged in proportion to his constantly increasing trade until now the Benson Bros. carry one of the largest stocks in town. On the 27th of May 1876, Mr. Benson and Lena Myers were married. The lady was born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1854, shortly after the emigration of her parents, Nicholas and Katrina (Myers) Myers, from Prussia to America.  Unto them have been born three children - Jennie L., Lizzie and Oscar M.   Mr. Benson is a member of the Lutheran Church and his wife is a follower of the Catholic faith.   He is a Democrat in politics, has served as Township Trustee and for many years has been a member of the school board. He is also an honored member of the Masonic fraternity. He not only began life in this country without capital but was $50 in debt when he came to the United States. However, industry and enterprise have stood him in stead of capital and influential friends and he has worked his way upward step by step. The firm of Benson Bros. is now widely and favorably known and its members are recognized as leading men of Elgin.

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