Essex

BENTON, Everett Chamberlin & Jay B.

1st Biography of Everett C. BENTON (brother of Jay B. BENTON)

Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Pub. Co., 1894, part III, pp 2-3 
of 20 unpaginated leaves (portrait in uniform, p 2 of 20)

Everett C. BENTON, of Belmont [Middlesex County], Massachusetts, was born 25 
September 1862 at Guildhall [Essex County, Vermont], son of Judge Charles E. 
and Adda C. BENTON. [Note the names of his parents are given as Emerson and 
Adda (CHAMBERLIN) BENTON in the second biography.] His father was one of the 
prominent men of Essex County and for many years held the office of county 
clerk, being also at the time of his death judge of probate. The BENTONs 
came from good old revolutionary stock, Mr. BENTON's paternal great 
grandfather having been a captain in the Continental Army under Gen. 
WASHINGTON, at Valley Forge, and his maternal great grandfather was a member 
of Capt. JOHNSON's Minute Men and present at the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. 
His Vermont ancestors were a sturdy family and prominent in the early 
history of the state.

In early youth Mr. [Everett C.] BENTON attended the public schools of his 
native town and the Colbrook and Lancaster Academies in New Hampshire. At 
the age of fourteen he was appointed a page in the Vermont senate and his 
political career may be said to have begun at that time. He was next clerk 
to the secretary of state for two years and then deputy county clerk of Essex 
country for four years. Going to Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts] in 
1882 he entered the insurance business, in which he is still engaged, being 
connected with the establishment of John C. PAIGE.

During his residence in Massachusetts, he has taken an active interest in 
politics, and has held various political offices. For a number of years he 
has been a member of the town Republican committee of Belomont; in 1890 he 
was elected a member of the Republican congressional district committee, in 
1891 a member of the Republican state committee, in 1892 chairman of 
committee on towns in the state committee, and in 1893-1894 he was chairman 
of the executive committee of the Republican state committee, and has just 
been re-elected to that office for 1895.

During the state campaign of 1893 Mr. BENTON distinguished himself as one of 
the hardest workers on the Republican state committee and when Governor 
GREENHALGE selected his military family he made fitting recognition of Mr. 
BENTON's excellent work for his party by appointing him an aide-de-camp on 
his staff with the title of colonel.

On 24 January 1885 in Charlestown [Charlestown in Sullivan County, New 
Hampshire, or Charlestown in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?] he [Everett C. 
BENTON] was married to [Miss?] Willena ROGERS, and of five children born to 
them, four are living: Jay R., Charles F., Blanche A., and Dorothy D. Col. 
BENTON is a member of the Republican Club of Massachusetts and of the Norfolk 
Club. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.



2nd Biography of Everett Chamberlin BENTON

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 118

Everett Chamberlin BENTON, insurance, Belmont [Middlesex County], 
Massachusetts, was born 25 September 1862 at Guildhall [Essex County, 
Vermont], son of Hon. Emerson [Charles Emerson?] and Adda (CHAMBERLIN) 
BENTON. His family was of Revolutionary stock, his grandfather having been a 
captain in the continental army. Educated at public schools of Guildhall, 
and Lancaster Academy [Coos County], New Hampshire. In 1882 he went to 
Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts] and secured a position in the 
insurance house of John C. PAIGE, and at the death of the founder of the firm 
became a part of its organization, continuing to date. In 1910 organized the 
Massachusetts Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Boston, Massachusetts, 
becoming its first president; author of "The History of Guildhall, Vermont," 
a valuable and authentic authority, supplying much of the early history of 
the county as well as the town. Served in Company I, Third Regiment New 
Hampshire National Guard; member Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of 
Boston, and its commander 1911-1912. A Republican, and for many years 
prominent in the councils of the party; aide-de-camp, with rank of colonel, 
on staff of Gov. GREENHALGE 1895-1897; elected member of the executive 
council in 1898; member state committee eleven years; delegate to three 
national conventions, and in 1904 delegate-at-large; member Metropolitan Park 
commission. 

In 1885 he [Everett Chamberlin BENTON married [Miss?] Willena ROGERS of 
Cambridge [Middlesex County], Massachusetts; they have six children: Jay 
Rogers, Charles Everett, Blanche Avola (Mrs. C. E. LONEGREN), Dorothy Draper, 
Hannah Slade, and Josiah Holt. Mr. BENTON is a Universalist; chairman board 
of trustees Second Society Universalists of Boston. In 1895 became a member 
of Simon W. Robinson Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons; Waltham Royal Arch 
Chapter 1896; Boston Council, Royal & Select Masons, 1901, and of St. Bernard 
Commandery, Knights Templar, 1902; received Scottish Rite degrees 1895, and 
Thirty-third degree 1902; among other distinctions Colonel BENTON has earned 
the title of past master, past thrice illustrious master, and past grand 
master of the Royal and Select Rite; past commander of St. Bernard 
Commandery, Knights Templar, and past commander-in-chief of the Massachusetts 
Consistory. He is past president Massachusetts and Rhode Island Association 
Knights Templar Commanders; in 1912 installed grand master of Masons in 
Massachusetts. First district deputy grand master of the Fourteenth Vermont 
District, and in 1905 was elected grand junior warden of the Grand Lodge of 
Vermont. In 1901 erected and presented to his native town a public library 
and Masonic hall. Past president Beacon Society of Boston; member of the 
Algonquin Club, Oakley Country Club, Boston Art Club, Vermont Association, 
Sons of the American Revolution, and vice president Sons of the Revolution. 
Office, 65 Kilby Street, Boston; residence, Oakley Road, Belmont, 
Massachusetts.



Biography of Jay B. BENTON (brother of Everett Chamberlin BENTON)

Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Pub. Co., 1894, part III, p 3 of 
20 unpaginated leaves (portrait p 3 of 20)

Jay B. BENTON, of Winchester [Middlesex County], Massachusetts, was born 10 
April 1870 in Guildhall [Essex County, Vermont], son of Judge Charles E. and 
Adda C. BENTON, of Guildhall. He was educated in Lancaster [Coos County], 
New Hampshire, and at the St. Johnsbury Academy [Caledonia County, Vermont], 
from which he graduated with high honors in 1885; being the youngest member 
of the class. After leaving St. Johnsbury, young [Jay B.] BENTON taught 
school for a term or two at Maidstone [Essex County, Vermont] and then went 
to New York City, where for a year he filled the office of librarian in the 
Young Men's Institute. In 1886 he entered Dartmouth College, graduating with 
honors four years later. While in college Mr. BENTON was editor of "The 
Dartmouth" for two years, president of the Handel Society, chorister in his 
senior year and assistant librarian of the college for three years. He also 
became a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity and of the Phi Beta Kappa 
society.

From Dartmouth he went to Boston and in the fall of 1890 joined the staff of 
the "Evening Transcript," which paper he had represented as Dartmouth 
correspondent. For a while he did reportorial work and was then promoted to 
the office of assistant city editor, in which he distinguished himself as an 
untiring worker and a man of ideas and originality. He remained with the 
"Transcript" until June 1894, when he accepted the position he now fills, 
that of assistant managing editor of the "Boston Journal." In this capacity 
he is largely responsible for the Sunday edition, in which are to be found 
many evidences of his energy and ability. He is the Boston correspondent of 
the "New York Dramatic Mirror", a popular member of the Press Club, the 
Newspaper Club, and the Papyrus Club, an organization of literary men. Mr. 
BENTON is unmarried and resides at his mother's home in Winchester [Middlesex 
County], Massachusetts.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly