Andrew T. Benson was born in Skiem, Norway September 13, 1840. He came to Rushford, Minnesota in 1854 with his parents. In 1878 he moved to Barnes County, near Daily, with his four children. His first wife, Agneta, the mother of Clara, Thomas and John, had died in 1871. His second wife, Rikka Marie, the mother of Josephine and Laura, died in 1881. In 1888, the family moved to Valley City where Andrew engaged in several businesses with his brothers, B. W. and C. O. Benson. He died in 1907.

Clara (1867-1940) married Sim Mason in 1908. John (1859-1948) moved to Oregon, Josephine (1873-1940) was a saleslady in Valley City. Laura (18801956), born at Daily, lived all her life in Valley City. Thomas G. (1871-1910) married Winifred Whitman in 1906. Two daughters were born; Lila (1907-1926) and Marion in 1909.

Winifred Whitman Benson was educated as a teacher, a member of the third class to graduate from the State Normal School. She began teaching in Valley City in 1889 and taught seven years until her marriage to Thomas G. Benson.

After her husband's death, she was again a teacher in the Valley City schools in 1917, and remained so until her retirement in 1937. She received her A.B. Degree in 1926. She was active in community activities, including the P.E.O., Community Club, Pioneer Daughters, DAR and the Congregational Church. Perhaps her greatest interest was history and she was instrumental in establishing the Barnes County Museum in the Court House and served as its curator from 1930 to 1957. She passed away on January 20, 1971.

Marion Benson received Master of Science Degree in Home Economics Education from the University of Minnesota and became Professor of Home Economics Education at North Dakota State University in 1953.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 27