Page:Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States (1905).djvu/49

 Belvedere; town in Marin County, California. From the Italian, meaning " beautiful sight."

Belvidere; township and city in Boone County, Illinois, named by one of the founders for his native place in Canada.

Belzoni; town in Washington County, Mississippi, named for an Italian, Giambattuta

Belzoni, a celebrated archaeologist.

Bement; township and village in Piatt County, Illinois, named for a United States surveyor.

Bemis Heights; village in Saratoga County, New York, named for Jonathan Bemis, innkeeper there during the Revolution.

Benedicta; town in Aroostook County, Maine, named for Bishop Benedicta Fenwick, who was an early proprietor.

Benhur; village in Mariposa County, California, named for the character in Gen. Wallace's novel.

Benicia; city in Solano County, California, named by General Vallejo for his wife, village in Kern County, California. A Spanish word meaning "nun."

Ben Lomond; post-offices in Sevier County, Arkansas, Santa Cruz County, California, Issaquena County, Mississippi, and Mason County, West Virginia; named from the lake in Scotland.

Bennett; town in Cedar County, Iowa, named for Chet Bennett, a railroad man.

Bennett; point in Maryland, named for Richard Bennett.

Bennett;town in Lancaster County, Nebraska, named for a resident.

Bennett Creek; village in Nansemond County, Virginia, named for Richard Bennett, governor in 1652-1656.

Bennetts; wells on the westerly border of Death Valley, Inyo County, California, named for the Bennett party of immigrants, most of whom perished in the neighborhood in 1852.

Bennetteville; town in Marlboro County, South Carolina, named for a family prominent in the State.

Bennington; town in Hillsboro County, New Hampshire, and county, and township, and town in same county in Vermont, named for Governor Benning Wentworth, of New Hampshire.

Benson; town in Johnston County, North Carolina, named for a prominent citizen, county in North Dakota, named for Hon. B. W. Benson, member of the State legislature and banker, of Valley City, North Dakota.

Benson; town in Rutland County, Vermont, said by some to have been named for Judge Egbert Benson, one of the original proprietors. The Vermont Historical Society says that it was named by James Meacham, a proprietor, for a Revolutionary officer.

Bent; county in Colorado, named for William Bent, first United States governor of New Mexico.

Benton; counties in Arkansas, Indiana, and Iowa; village in Marshall County, Kentucky; town in Bossier Parish, Louisiana; county, and township and village in Carver County, in Minnesota; counties in Mississippi and Missouri; town in Grafton County, New Hampshire; and counties in Oregon and Tennessee; named for Senator Thomas H. Benton, of Missouri. Thirty other cities, towns, and villages bear this name, most of them in honor of the same man.

Benton; town in Yates County, New York, named for Caleb Benton, the first settler.

Bentonia; town in Yazoo County, Mississippi, named for the maiden name of Mrs. Hal Green, a resident.

Benwood; city in Marshall County, West Virginia, named for Benjamin Latrobe, an engineer on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Benzie; county in Michigan. Probably named from the town of Benzonia, which was founded and named before the county. There are some, however, who think