People & Place Names
— North East Chaco —
El Bermejo & Campo Winter
1904-1940

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The people and place names mentioned in John's record of his visits to estancia "El Bermejo" (for The Bermejo Estancia Co., Ltd.) and later by Alfred's record of his visits to "Campo Winter" form a unique set.

We will be adding names to the list and maps as we progress with the transcription of the diaries. Any suggestions and corrections are welcome.

Gone to Paraguay.

Maps:


Chaco Territory (east half) 1916 (Source: Biblioteca Digital Trapalanga de la Biblioteca Nacional, Argentina)	Campo Winter with: Campo Araoz, El Sombrerito, & El Picaso 1937 (Source:F.M. Benitz)	Cattle Counts Campo Winter 1937 (Source:F.M. Benitz)

Estancia El Bermejo: ( 1910 - 1950+)

The estancia El Bermejo, 10 sq. leagues (25,000 ha.), was bought on 13 May, 1910, for $a280,000 by the British company The Bermejo Estancia Co. Ltd., the principal shareholders of which were T. Agar, M. Cross, & Col. Ruston. John E. Benitz was also a shareholder (10%), he represented the company in Argentina with authority to register it, to buy & sell land, and to oversee its management (see John's diaries for details). It was good for cattle breeding, but was also valued for its quebracho trees. During the period of Alfred’s diaries (1927-1934), it was managed by Mr. Armitage until October 30, 1930, thereafter by Mr. Brownrigg. The estancia was in the shape of an inverted "T", 4 leagues east to west, and 2 league north to south (4x2), with a stem 1 league wide that reached north 2 leagues to the Rio Bermejo. The town of El Zapallar (renamed in 1950 to: Gral. José de San Martín) was at its S-W corner.

Campo Winter (1917-1937+):

Campo Winter, 4 sq.leagues (2x2, 10,000 ha.), was given by the federal government to General Lorenzo Vintter (1842-1915) for services rendered in campaigns against the indians (see Wikipedia). Alfred A. Benitz bought it in 1917 from Vintter’s daughters for $a50,000 (?). It was bordered to the north by the Rio Bermejo, to the south and east by estancia El Bermejo. Alfred later bought another 8,400 hectareas, east of the El Bermejo "stem" (see maps above). Per the above cattle count of 1937, it carried 7,565 head, about 1 per 2½ hectares (6 acres). It was all sold soon after his death in 1937.
The first mayordomo (hired manager) at Campo Winter was probably Donkin (see the 1918 diary), apparently followed by Tuckey (no title). In 1930, Mr. Hamilton was managing it (at $500 per month), there is no mention of when he started. The Miss Spackman mentioned is Phyllis Enid Spackman, governess to John & Mary Horner, and at one time was engaged to Mr. Hamilton.

Camp	Bought	Size (ha.)	Price ($a)
Campo Winter	1917	10,000	50,000
Campo Araoz		2,500
El Sombrerito		2,980
El Picaso	1937	2,910	90,000
		18,390

Names:

— Abbreviations —
Alfred – Alfred A. Bz. – 2^nd gen. Arg. – Argentina BA / B.A. / Bs.As. – Buenos Aires Bz - Benitz Cba. – Córdoba (province) Herman – Herman Bz – 2^nd gen. Johnnie – John E. Bz. – 2^nd gen.	Josephine – Josephine Bz-Schrieber – 2^nd gen. LaCal. – Estancia “La California” Mother - Josephine Kolmer-Bz - 1^st gen. SFé – Santa Fé (province) TL – Estancia “Las Tres Lagunas” W&J – William & Josephine Bz – 1^st gen. WBz – Wilhelm Bz – 1^st gen. Willie – William O. Bz. – 2^nd gen.
For more about the Benitz 2^nd generation, see this family page.

A - M

Alfred / Alfredo / AABz: Alfred Alexander Benitz (1859-1937) – see his short bio. & much more; 8^th child of Wilhelm & Josephine Benitz.
Barranqueras: River port of Resistencia (Chaco) on the Paraná river. Also island by same name.
Bermejo, El: Estancia El Bermejo - see maps & description above.
Bermejo, Rio: A navigable river that flows from north-west to south-east it empties into the Paraná river. It separates the Chaco and Formosa provinces, and was the northern border to both estancias, El Bermejo and Campo Winter.
Buenos Aires / B.A. / BA: Largest city and capital of Argentina, also the name of the largest province (with capital La Plata) that surrounds B.A. the city
Campo Winter: Estancia owned by Alfred Bz - see maps & description above.
California, La: Estancia founded by WBz in 1875 in the province of Santa Fé. 4 sq. leagues, 100 km. north-west of Rosario and 30 km. north of Cañada de Gómez, or 9 km. south of present-day Las Rosas. It was the family home and headquarters for several decades after.
Chaco, region: To the Benitz family members, it meant the “Gran Chaco” climatic region that encompasses north Santa Fé, north-east Santiago del Estero, and all of the Chaco and Formosa provinces. It also includes south-eastern Bolivia, southern Paraguay, and neighboring parts of Brazil, south of the Mato Groso.; Estancia El Bermejo and Campo Winter were in both the Chaco province and climatic region. Whereas Laguna Yacaré & Los Palmares were within the Chaco climatic region but in north Santa Fé province.
Chaco, province: Province bordering Santa Fé to the north, its northern border was the Rio Bermejo.
Chiburra: (JEB: 1910 Apr) A squatter, he had 12,000 head of cattle on the lands that would become estancia El Bermejo.
Córdoba: Argentine province to the west of Santa Fé province. Its capital, Córdoba city, is about 700 km. NW of Buenos Aires.
Entre Rios: Province east of Santa Fé's southern half across the Paraná river. It’s capital, Paraná, is directly east of Santa Fé city. The provinces of Misiones, Corrientes, & Entre Rios lie between the Paraná & Uruguay rivers, and form the Argentine mesopotamic region.
Forguahanm: (JEB: 1910 Apr) Likely the Scotsman (farmer from Uruguay) mentioned earlied in JEB's letter
Gómez, Cañada de: (1884 Aug) Town 35km. south of La California, on the rail-road between Rosario and Córdoba city.
John / Johnnie / JB / JEBz: John Edward Benitz (1861-1916) – see a short bio. & much more.; 9^th child of Wilhelm & Josephine Benitz.
Josephine (mother): a.k.a. Josefa Kolmerer, Josefina Kolmer de Benitz, Mother
Mrs. Josephine Benitz (1830-1912) – see her bio. pages; wife of Wilhelm Benitz.
Josephine: a.k.a. Josephine Schreiber – she married Johan Schreiber, 1878
Josephine Benitz (1852-1911) – see her bio. pages; 5^th child of Wilhelm & Josephine Benitz.
Leaches: (JEB: 1910 Apr) Mentions the family, settled in NW Argentina.
Maclean: (JEB: 1910 Apr) JEB in a letter to Marjorie, April 1910. Likely an agent helping JEB find land to buy (see El Bermejo at top).

N - Z

Palmares, Los: Estancia in the Chaco region of northern Santa Fé between the Calchaquí and Salado rivers, 30 km. west of Calchaquí (town). Used for breeding cattle, Alfred rented it 1890-1904, & later bought it, from the Santa Fé Land Co. (a.k.a.: La Forestal). See his diaries & day-books, 1884-1904.
Palmas, Las: River port in the Chaco province. It is on the Rio Paraguay, just north of where the Rio Paraguay joins the Rio Paraná.
Paraná, Ciudad / City: Capital of Entre Rios province, it is directly east across the Paraná river from Santa Fé city.
Paraná, Rio: A major river, its basin includes all of Paraguay, a good part of SW Brazil, and most of northern Argentina. It drains south, joining the Rio Uruguay to form the Rio de la Plata. Sea going grain vessels travel up it as far as Santa Fé city. Before trains, a ferry service linked Buenos Aires with cities as far north as Asunción, Paraguay, e.g. S.S. Berlin.
Paul, Richard: (JEB: 1910 Apr) An Englishman farming in the Chaco; JEB met him when hunting for land. Possibly related to Grahame Paul, segundo at Los Algarrobos.
Reconquista: River town on the Paraná river, 80 km. NE of Vera, 110 km NNE of L.Yacaré, 150 NE of L.Palmares. See map.
Resistencia: Capital city of the Chaco province, on the Paraná river, across from Corrientes city, capital of said province.
Rincon, El: Alfred Bz’s summer home in Cruz Grande, Cba.
Rosario: Largest city in the province of Santa Fé, on the west bank of the Paraná river, 310 km. north of Buenos Aires and 160 south of Santa Fé city. It was & is a grain export terminus.
Rosas, Las: Town closest to La California. Founded in 1888 (by the Dickinson brothers) as Las Lomas, in 1892 it was incorporated into the adjoining town of Las Rosas (founded in 1889 by William Kemmis). 130 km. NW of Rosario & 35 km. north of Cañada de Gómez, it is today the seat of the department of Belgrano, Santa Fé.
Salta: Adjective: salteño
Province of north-west Argentina.
Santa Fé: Adjective: santafecino.
Argentine province in which La California, L.Yacaré, and L.Palmares are located. Its capital, Santa Fé city, is 475 km. north of Buenos Aires on the Paraná river (or 150 km. NE of La California). The province is named after the city which dates from colonial times. The northern 1/3 of the province lies within the Chaco geographical region; the southern 2/3 are within the pampa humeda - the humid pampas, prime agricultural land - flat and fertile.
Santiago del Estero: Adjective: santiagueño.
Province west of northern 1/2 of Santa Fé province and south of Chaco province.
Tijeras, Las: Third league / section (counted east to west) of La California. Populated with colonos (tenant farmers) during the 1880’s. Alfred received it when he and his brothers divided up their joint properties.
Tres Lagunas, Las: (aka: the TL or 3 Lag) Estancia owned by Alfred Bz; borders Las Tijeras to the north; today it abuts the south side of Las Rosas, Santa Fé. He bought it in 1909, it became his principal residence.
Vermejo, Rio: see Bermejo, Rio.
William, Willie, WOBz: William Otto Benitz (1854-1911) – see his bio. pages; he married Clara E. Allyn & was the 6^th child of Wilhelm & Josephine Benitz.

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People & Place Names— North East Chaco — El Bermejo & Campo Winter1904-1940