[2][3] He was elevated to president of that university in 1861 and served in that post until 1868 when he resigned in protest over low salaries being paid to faculty members.

[1] It is said that many newspaper editors in Nebraska were disappointed with the selection of Benton as chancellor, but over time he gradually won broad support.

[3] The difficult financial times coupled with a religious controversy surrounding whether the university was to be influenced by various Christian denominatinos or become secular in nature led to Benton offering his resignation in December 1875, which would be effective by June 1876.

He formed the university's cirriculum around a classical model, including the study of many ancient languages and mathematics.

[2] Once again, after ten years as a philosophy professor, he was elevated to a second term as the president of what was then called Butler University in 1886.

[3][9] After the death of his wife Silence in 1900[8] and resigning from teaching at Butler University, Benton returned to Nebraska in 1907[7] to be close to his eldest daughter Grace who was still living in Lincoln with her husband J. Stuart Dales.

[4] Upon his death in a formal resolution, the Butler University Board of Directors praised Benton for his "unfailing courtesy and tolerance, the deep learning and convictions, the well rounded character and life of our old friend and teacher.