Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-11-12
GEORGE GRENVILLE BENEDICT.
Journalist, Soldier, Historian, Citizen.
Horn Mt burlington, VT, Dec. 10, 1896.
Died mt Camden, :. C.. April :, 1907.

Journalist, Soldier, Historian, Citizen.
Died Mt Camden, $. C.. April :. 1907.
In the tullness of n we'll ordered life.
in the rich maturity of a rarely cultivat-
cd mind. In the rpeness of an abundant
knowledge of history garnered through
many years OF discriminating study and
research. George Grenvile Benedict. for
eleven years the president, dean and
chief Inspiration Of this society, has been
called to his eternal rest.
To adequately record here the detailed
achievements Of the .ong life OF useful
ness In the broad field of Vermont en-
deavor that made him the Nestor Of this
society and the recognized leading au-
| thority on the history of the State.
would mean that history itself would
have to be reviewed From early youth
he was conspcuously identified with the
| Hottest activities Of Vermont, IN peace
and In war. and when IN 1896 he assumed
| tho presidency OF this society, It was TO
bring to It's councils the mellowed judr-
ment OF a man who interpreted Vermont
! history the moro faithfully because he
himself partook IN fullest measure of its
glories and IN his day and generation
nobly helped to make IT.
During his long membership In the
society he labored diligently and zeal
| ously for the promotion Of wider
J popular interest in the work Of gath
ering UP the history of the State be-
fore its original sources should he lost.
and much Of tho invaluable material
Of this character secured in tho past
quarter century is duo 20 his pains
taking efforts and authoritative scru-
tiny. His own principal original con-
tribution. vermont In the Civil war
gavo him recognition At once ms the
state historian and placed him in equal
rank with the best OF the writer's and
authorities that have performed SINH
lar tasks throughout the country.
| This simple memorial Is not designe ed
to tell tho story OF his useful life,
however briefly. but II Is meant in all
the earnestness of great respect and
sincere attachment to enter upon the
records Of the society some formal to-
ken of the sorrow and sense of per-
sonaI loss that came to every member
upon his lamcnted death. 1t IS the
custom of men to do this upon such
occasions but the exalted character
and value o. the life now gratefully
|
more sincere.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
on motion Of Z. s. Peck Of burlington
the chair was authorized to appoint a
couiNttee of three to nominate officers
; for the ensuing year. Gen. r. S. Peck
: Judge T. S stanton and the Rev. Dv
j. Edward Wright We're appointed suci
committee They reported the following
who were unanimously elected; Presi-
dent. w. W. Stickney of Ludlow; vice
, presidents, j. A. DeBoer OF Montpelier
Horace w Bailey of Newbury, j. Z
Goodrich OF Burlington; recording secre
tary. Il. II. Field OF Montpelier; cores
. ponding secretaries. Z NJ. Goddard OF
MONTPELIER G. S Forbes Of St Adams
treasurer, Henry + Field of Rutland
, librarian, T.. NJ Goddard Of Montpelier
curators, Addison county, Ezra Brainerd
bennington. Samuel II. Hall; Caledonia
= the Roy. Henry Fairbanks; Chittenden
D the Rev. John +. Goodrich; Essex For
ter ii. Dale; Franklin, Frank l.. Greene
r Grand Isle. n. W. Fisk Lamoille, Car
1 rol s. Page; Orange, DIR. George paVen
t port; Orleans. +. w. Baldwin; Rutlahd
q +, c. Partridge: Washington, Hiram
6 Carleton; Windham, Bert f, Merriam
q Windsor. Gilbert A. Davis Guy W. Bal
! ley secretary of state, Horaca +. era
ham. auditor OF accounts. and George
a w. Wing, State librarian arc also ex
offico members of this board OF cura
tors.
, Before the election OF Offices, the chail
read letter from Joseph a. DeBoer ask
ing to be relieved from serving longer
rs secretary of the society. The society
has a present membership OF 24l, maze
up 23 active, 1l3 corresponding ana
honorary members. Since the publication
of tho last biennial proceedings the so
ciety has lost by death the Hon George
G. Benedict of Burlington, Harry I
Cushman of Remington, DR., John Henry
Jackson of Barre, the Rev. a, \. Lewis
of Montpelier, the Hon. John IL. Merri
field OF Newfane, Senator Redheld Proc
tor OF Proctor and Edward Wells of Bur
llington.