From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 737. City of La Crosse BENSON BROTHERS, merchants and proprietors of the Variety Store, No. 20 Main street, have been in business in La Crosse since May, 1880. The firm is composed of two brothers, Ivar and Bernt Benson, both born in Norway, sons of Bernt Benson, who died in Norway in 1860. They came to America in 1875, and have lived in Wisconsin ever since, and are both unmarried. They have one brother, B. M. Benson, in the mercantile business in Dorchester, Clark Co., Wis., and another, Emanuel Benson, engaged in farming near San Francisco, Cal. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]