----Source: 1881 HISTORY OF NORTHERN WI, Chicago: The Western Historical Company, A. T. Andreas, Proprietor (grammar as is), Pg. 251

BERTHIN M. BENSON, dealer in general merchandise, Dorchester, Wis. Came to the village (of Dorchester) in 1875. Born in Stavanger, Norway, March 15, 1850. His father was a merchant at that place, and met some losses before his death, which occurred on the 17th of October, 1859. Heaviest loss, however, was on the 13th of March, 1860, when a great fire destroyed what property the widowed mother had left, leaving them penniless, but with the aid of friends, and with all the help the little boys could render, they lived. Berthin went to work when thirteen years old, as errand boy, at fourteen, in a grocery store, and at sixteen, entered with a dry goods firm, where he remained for six years, leaving Norway, May 16, 1872. He landed in Madison, Wis., on the 11th of June, going to work for a farmer, until he secured a place in the drug and grocery house of Clark Mills. In 1874, he established the firm of Nelson Benson, drugs and groceries, Main Street, Madison, Wis. a year after dissolved partnership, and came to Dorchester and built his store and house in the woods. As the county grew, his trade increased, until with a stock of $3,000, his business was $12,000 for 1880. In 1876, Berthin sent for his mother and two younger brothers. They came and staid but a short time, and getting homesick, went back, and in 1878, September 6, at fifty-nine years of age, his dear mother died. His brothers, Iver and Bernt, returned to Wisconsin, and stopped at Milwaukee, where Berthin had secured places for them. After about one year and a half, they located at La Crosse, where they now carry on a general variety store, in the firm name of Benson Brothers, of which Berthin is a member, and will, in person, take active work therein, September, 1881. His youngest brother, Bernt, died March 28, 1881. The fourth brother, Emanuel, is living in San Francisco, where he has been working in a milk range for eight years. On the 21st of July, 1875, Mr. Benson married Miss Johanna M. Larson, of Madison. They have one child, a daughter, Gunda Marie. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod and has served the public for three years as Town Clerk. In 1880, he was appointed as Enumerator, in the town of Mayville, Clark County, of the Third Census District of Wisconsin, by the Government.