Edwin Benedict was born around 1834 in Connecticut to George and Harriet Benedict. His father was a carpenter who owned $2,500 of real estate by 1850. He married Cornelia Morse, and their daughter Harriet was born around 1859. He worked as a carpenter in Newtown, Connecticut, and by 1860, he owned $800 of real estate and $200 of personal property. His wife died on October 22, 1861. He then married Mary E. Ambler, and their son Alfred was born around 1864.
He enlisted in the Union army on September 7, 1862, and he mustered in as a corporal in Company G of the 23rd Connecticut Infantry on November 14. He mustered out on August 13, 1863. He returned to Newtown after the war and resumed his work as a carpenter. He drowned on October 15, 1869.