Peter Benson was a Swedish immigrant who opened a music store "Benson Music House" in Minneapolis in 1891. He was a manufacturer and importer of guitars, violins and other instruments. While he certainly made Benson branded guitars in Minneapolis (which were literally branded with a P. Benson logo burned onto the inside of the body), others believe some were also made by Lyon and Healy, Larson Brothers or even Martin.

Source The Benson Guitar Collection

Benson Music House