Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-09-28
George Wyllys Benedict.

George Wyllys Benedict, was born in
North Stamford, Conn, Jan uary II, 1896,
the oldest son of Rev. Joel Tyler Benedict
and Currsnce Wheeler, his wife. At the
| age of nineteen, he entered the Sophmore
Class at Williams College, September,
1915, and graduated in 1918 with the
highest honors. After grad usting he be-
came principal of the Academy in West
| field, Mass, but WAS soon after, in 1919
appointed tutor in Williams College,
which position he held for three years.
when he accepted the charge of the Acade-
my in Newburgh, N. Y. While there, he
was elected Professor of Mathematics and
Natural Philosophy in the University of
Vermont. He accepted the position, and
! for the twenty-five years following, be
gave the prime of his life and the best of
his strength to that institution. OF his
service in il, President Wheeler in the
historical discourse delivered at the Semi
Centennial Celebration of the University
in 1854, said: an August, 1913, Prof
George w. Benedict re-igned his posi-
ton IA Professor of Chemistry and
Natural History, and retired from the
active service of the Uuiversity.
His loss was deeply felt. He had b Aen
swenty two years in the institution. He
had stood by the smouldering ashes Of the
first college building. He had been the
most active and energetic man in COM
peting the new. He was teacher, he was
| agent, he was superintendent. He plan
ned the subscription of 1894, and was the
general agent in accomplishing it. He
was appointed treasurer, and brought
light out of darkness and order out of
confusion. He planned in comprehen-
sive manner for the University, and he
spent time and money and strength with
out stint, for it's interests. Grateful feel
ings are 6us to Kim from every alumnus
and from every friend of education ia the
State"
Mr.. Benedict left the University to
avoid threatened breaking down of his
health. Seeking some more out of door
occupation, be was engaged as an assist IN
by Ezra Cornell, who was then in the
construction of the Troy and Canada
Junction Telegraph line, making the be-
gihnipg of the fortune which has since
enabled him to fonnd Cornell University. |
He assisted Mr. Cornell in raising the |
stock and in the construction of the line.
and became the first superintendent of
the comp any. Hon. John w. Stewart, now
Governor of Vermont, and Hon. L. c. |
Dodge, present mayor If Burlington, were
among the first operators under him. He
held this position but short time, leav-
ing it to engage in telegraph building on
his own account. He raised the capital
stock of the Vermont and Boston Tele-
graph Company, and was the contractor
for the construction of the first line of
that Company from Boston to Burlington.
and of its extentions TO Montreal, 0 sdens-
burg, aud through the Connecticut River
Valley. In 1858, in company with his
second son, be purecased the Burlington
Free Press, and devoted himself to it, az
editor and publisher, for fftsen years. till
in 1866 he sold his interest to his third
son, and retired from active labor. In
1854, he was elected State Senator from
Chittenden county, and was reelected 10
1865. He was an active and leading
member of the Senate, was chairman of
the committee on edusation and of sever
al important select committees, and drew
the report of the select committee on the
extension of slavery and the right of
slave to his freedom when brought into a
free State, in 1866, which attracted wide
attention. Among bis assooi ites in the
Senate, were Ex-Gov. Coolidge, Norman
Williams, John Pierpoint, Dudley C.
Denison, and other prominent citizens of /:
Vermont.
In 1857 be receive d the degree of LID
from the University of Vermont.
He was one Of the deacons of the Col :
lege street church, from It's first organi- j
2 'tion as church, and held the office to f
bis death. He was the president of the I
first Editors and Publishers Association :
IF Vermont. He was for several wears
one of the vice-presidents of the Vermont '
Historical Society, and took an active in
.erest in it's affairs.
He was married June 9th, 1928, to Eliza /
Dewey, daughter of Stephen and Eliza Q
beth Owen Dewey of Sheffield, Mass, .
oy whom he had six sons, four of whom, :
hon. Q. L. Benedict and R. d. Benedict,
Esq. of Brooklyn. N. Y, G. G.. Benedict d
Ind B. L. Benedict of Burlington, survive ]
,im. He married again August 9Th, :
Sal, to Eveliua, daughter of Ebenezer
)imon of Fairfield, Conn, and widow of 9
Robbins Kellogg, Esq, of West Stock L
ridge, Macs, who survives him. Seven b
r eight years since, an attack of whoop- Ii