ROY H. (DOC) BENHAM
No city was built on sweetness and light, nor any community. It was built with hard work, enthusiasm and a certain foresight, a well conceived plan la a dream...a well advertised dream.
"The Dream", that of Orchard Gardens, was conceived by R.H. Benham, known to many as "Doc". Little is known of his early years. He married Jessie Evans September 21, 1899, and attended rush Medical College in Chicago, where he received his medical degree.
The couple moved to Burnsville for health reasons. He did not practice medicine in Burnsville. Rather, he explored other interests--farming, raising Yorkshire hogs and cattle--and the development he named Orchard Gardens.
He was a man of vision. "Minneapolis should move south," he used to say, and the record shows that he accomplished much toward providing a healthy suburb with all the necessary amenities.
His many achievements and interests include: organizing the County Agent movement in Farmington; assisting with the organization of the Dakota County Co-op Electric and serving as the first Chairman of the Board; fighting in court to save the Dan Patch Railroad line from being torn up. He served the line for seven years without pay, until the line was reinstated and financially successful.
As President of the Hennepin County Good Roads Association, he was instrumental in having Lyndale Avenue and a bridge over the Minnesota River built. It was the first paved road connecting Minneapolis with areas south of the city.
Doc Benham was involved in the passing of the Babcock Bill which taxed gasoline so that better roads could be constructed. He donated the land for Orchard Lake School...he and Mrs. Benham were members of the School Board.
He was the supervising inspector of Argonne Development Company, a federal project planned to sell home sites to World War I veterans.
He purchased hundreds of acres in the southwest Burnsville area and portions of Lakeville, which he platted and named "Minnesota Orchard Gardens". At the time, the development included homes, farms, railroad depots, branch post offices, several stores, and a summer resort.
The Benhams were the parents of a son and daughter, Kingsley and Helen, both born in Burnsville There are no Benhams now living in Burnsville.
"Doc" Benham died at age 81 on February 6, 1957 in Los Angeles. He was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Mrs. Benham died February 27, 1970 and the Sanford Memorial Nursing Home in Farmington.