Last Updated on May 17, 2011 by
The Rev. Benjamin F. Hoyt, son of Elijah (2) and Polly (Quintard-Raymond) Hoyt, was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, June 8, 1800, died in St. Paul, Minnesota, about 1875. In early life he worked on a farm and taught school, and then settled in western New York State. About 1825, he went to Ohio, and spent the next twenty years in that state and in Illinois. In 1848 he settled in the then new settlement of St. Paul, where he built himself a house and became prominent in the community. He was a Methodist local preacher and was often called by his friends “Father Hoyt.” He was a founder of Hamline University and made several trips to New York City in behalf of that institution. He was a man of bountiful generosity. He dealt largely in real estate in St. Paul and became very well-to-do. At the time of his marriage, he furnished his home with furniture he made himself. He married, in 1826, Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Richard Haney, of Illinois. Children: Elizabeth; Mark A.; George M.; Lorenzo; John F., referred to elsewhere; Freeborn; a daughter, married J. H. Murphy; a daughter, married George H. Hazard.