History of North Stamford, (Fairfield County) Connecticut United States of America

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George Wyllys Benedict, educator, was born at North Stamford, Conn., Jan. 11, 1796; son of Joel Tyler and Currance (Wheeler) Benedict. After his graduation from Williams college in 1818, he went to Westfield, Mass., where he remained for a short time as principal of the academy. He then returned to Williams college, and until 1821 held the position of instructor, going then to New York state to become principal of the Newburg academy. After three years' work there he accepted the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy in the University of Vermont. After more than twenty years of pedagogic labor the condition of his health induced him to engage with Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell university, in the construction of the telegraph line between Troy and Canada Junction. He afterwards raised the capital of the Vermont and Boron telegraph company, and was contractor for the construction of the first line from Boston to Burlington. In 1853, with his second son, he purchased the Burlington (Vt.) Free Press, and he edited and managed that journal until 1866, when his youngest son purchased his interest. He served in the Vermont state senate in 1854 and 1855. The University of Vermont conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in 1857. He was president of the first editors' and publishers' association in Vermont, and a vice-president of the Vermont historical society. He was married June 5, 1823, to Eliza, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth (Owen) Dewey, of Sheffield, Mass. He died in Burlington, Vt., Sept. 24, 1871.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of North Stamford, (Fairfield County) Connecticut

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