The 3 Names of the Town
In 1903 with roadbed work already underway, Sam Robertson appeared and won the bid for track laying and bridging from Robstown to Brownsville into Hidalgo County, under his newly formed Southern Contracting Co.
On May 6, 1904, the supply train reached the banks of the Resaca de los Fresnos. The crew threw up a bridge across the channel and set up a supply camp named "Bessie" in honor of Yoakum's daughter.
Sam platted his town in 1907, renaming it "Diaz" for Mexico's longtime president.
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"San Benito" was later suggested by a 68 year-old cook in his surveyors' camp. Rafael Moreno, who had been a cabin boy during the heyday of steamboating on the Rio Grande, wanted to honor his former patron, Benjamin Hicks.
At least that was Robertson's story. There are others who say Moreno suggested the name as a combination of "Sam" (Robertson) and "Benny" (Hicks). Regardless of which is true, the name stuck. And it was given to San Benito (Benny) Montalvo who is generally considered the first person born after the name was changed.