Edwin Lee Byington was born on August 20, 1852, in Ogdensburg, New York.

Around 1861 he spent time at Hope, Ontario with his mother. He earned an M.A. degree and in 1882, he became the first Principal of Central Normal School (1882-1884), the only Normal School in Manitoba at the time. During his tenure here, he was an Officer of the Winnipeg Teachers’ Association (1883-?) and the IOOF (The Independent Order of Odd Fellows). In 1884, he left for Omaha, Nebraska. By January 1886, he had accepted a position as School Inspector at Colorado Springs, Colorado and worked with former Winnipeg teacher J. D. Hunt.

In 1885, he married Helene Maud Cleghorn (1861-1907). He died in 1891 in Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado.