More Lake Benton History

How Our Town Received Its Name

Lake Benton -- a scenic valley in Lincoln County, Minnesota -- has been a source of inspiration for poet and historian alike.

"Hid from the wind's shrill battle call,
By sheltered wood and mountain wall . . . "

The lake received its name all the way back in 1838 on the occasion of the exploration trip of the Nicollet-Fremont party through the Minnesota-Dakota Territory. Fremont and Nicollet were genuinely impressed by the beauty of the lake, surrounded by wooded hills and stretching out toward the east for nine miles. They camped along its shores, enjoying the scenery as well as the fishing.

General John C. Fremont had been sent to keep an eye on the new country and Joseph Nicolas Nicollet (a French mathematician and map-maker) was busy mapping the land between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Fremont, lonely and homesick, looked off over the lake and thought of his fiancee, Jessie Benton, daughter of Missouri Senator Thomas H. Benton.

"Why not name this Lake Benton, for her," he thought and suggested it to Nicollet. Our city, which took its name from the lake, was founded in the late 1870's and was platted August 29, 1879.

 

Lake Benton, County Metropolis

by W.N. Johnson, in "Lincoln County, Minnesota 1873-1973"

When the railroad was built westward in the mid-1870's, this prairie town rapidly became the county's metropolis. The lake was filled to overflowing with sparkling water and abounded with several species of fish. Another asset to the town was the flour mill that was established by an expert miller, Mr. Green. Wheat was ground to flour for residents over a large area.

Trips to Lake Benton were impressive. On one occasion we were driving a yoke of oxen of a hot day in mid-July. This ox team violated all highway rules, of which there were none. Driving down what was known as the "Mork Hill" the oxen veered to the left and headed pell mell into the lake. They stood there belly-deep, gulping water and swishing flies until they were "tanked up" and contented. Neither whiplash nor a "giddap" order could move that ox team out of the lake until they decided to emerge. Then they turned and pulled the wagon back on a trail that skirted the west shoreline of the lake. The trip to market, via ox-power, usually required ten to twelve hours.

 

Lake Benton's Steam Boat

by Viola Marti, in "Lincoln County, Minnesota 1873-1973"

When I was a child, the Lake Benton lake looked as big as my concept of an ocean. Through my limited experience, our lake was a whole world to me. It had every thing: clear blue waters, huge waves, fish of all varieties, and more ducks than hunters. Most of all, in this beautiful expanse of water there floated an honest to goodness steam boat.

As children, we loved to hear our folks talk about Charles LaVesson's steamer. When the "Queen" of our lake outlived its usefulness, it slowly sank to its watery grave half way between Loy's point and the site of our old creamery. Many times that last summer, we walked along the lake shore, seeing less and less of the big hull which represented a great historical event of our time. During the winter that followed, we used the remains of the boat which stuck out above the ice as a home base for skaters. it served its last usefulness in protecting the little folks who were just learning to skate. During the following spring, old ironsides gave up its fight in the battle against the elements, and it disappeared in the waters of a great lake.

 

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