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The Edgerton Database |
Caroline Edgerton, daughter of Clarence and Mary Maria (
George Harrison King, son of William Harrison
and Sarah A. (
Children:
The
following biographical account of George and Caroline (Edgerton) King is
excerpted from Biographical Memoirs of St.
Clair County, Michigan (Logansport, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, publishers; 1903;
pp. 339-342): “George H. King was a son of W. Harrison and Sarah A.
(Derby) King. The Derby family came to
Michigan in 1834, and have since lived near Dryden, and all the children had
the advantage of good educations.
Sarah A. (Derby) King is remarkably active for a lady of her age,
being now eighty years old. She was
one of the first settlers of the state of Michigan, a well known and highly
respected lady. She has been a member
of the Methodist Episcopal church since early life, and always an active
worker in the church. W. Harrison
King, the father of George H., was one of the pioneers of Michigan. He came to the state in an early day, and
by reason of his cheerful and happy disposition was a favorite with all who
knew him. He was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, to which he was a very liberal contributor. He was successful in business and a highly
respected citizen, being largely instrumental in the erection of the church
building in which he worshipped. His
farm was situated one and a half miles west of Almont. He was a Republican in
politics, and was the father of a family of eight children, of whom George H.
was the oldest. George H. King, after attending high school in Almont,
went west, Kansas being his destination, where he entered a government
claim. He was absent for two years. He
then studied telegraphy in Ohio, from where he was called home by the illness
and death of a sister. Soon afterward
his father was taken ill with typhoid fever and died, and George H. remained
on the farm for three years, managing the estate and teaching school. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and
three acres, situated on the main road between Capac and Smith,
Michigan. He lived on this farm for
two years. He then removed to Almont,
where he was in the employ of Colerick & Martin. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and an active worker in the church and Sunday school. He was a Republican in his political affiliations,
and while he was on the farm he was township superintendent of schools. He was extremely pleasant and companionable
in his home life, where he found his greatest comfort and pleasure. He carried life insurance to the amount of
three thousand dollars, which enabled his widow to clear up and improve the
farm which he had deeded to her, and which she has since managed with
wonderful discretion. Before her
marriage she was Miss Carrie Edgerton, and was married October 24, 1874
[sic]. She is a daughter of Clarence
and Mary M. (Clark) Edgerton, he being a son of Curtis Edgerton, who was a
veteran of the war of 1812. He came
from Canada to Michigan in a very early day, and settled on a farm in Berlin
township, near Smith village, where he lived until his death at an advanced
age. Clarence Edgerton was one of nine
children. He was township drain
commissioner for several years, and directed the location of some important
drains, which have made Berlin famous.
Mrs. Mary M. (Clark) Edgerton. the mother of Mrs. Carrie King, was a
daughter of Amasa and Roxana Clark, who came from Rutland, Vermont, in a very
early day and settled in Berlin township and reared a family of twelve
children. Mary M. was the eldest of
these children, and by her marriage became the mother of eight children;
George married and located in Arenac county, Michigan, and is a prosperous
farmer; Carrie; Andrew, a farmer in Berlin township; Emily married Esley
Warner and lives on a farm in Tuscola county, Michigan; Amy married Joseph
Carpenter and lives at Maple Ridge; Myron lives in Emmett county, Michigan,
and is a farmer; Burton married and lives on the old homestead in Berlin
township; Walter is a farmer near Imlay City. Michigan. Carrie (Edgerton) King was a graduate of the Almont high
school, being a member of the first class which graduated from that school in
1872. She received her first
certificate as a teacher at the age of fifteen years and taught several
years, including a year in high school.
She finished up the clearing which remained undone by reason of her
husband's death, and now has the whole farm well improved, and is famous for
the high grade of stock which she raises and handles, including Durham
cattle, fine woolecl sheep, good horses, etc. Mrs. King is the mother of three children, Lillian May, Cary Harrison and Elmer E.. all of whom are well educated. Lillian and Cary have both attended Ferris Institute at Big Rapids. Both taught for some years, and the former is now a student in the Agricultural College, taking a special course. The youngest, Elmer E., is preparing for college. Mrs. King has been for some time an officer of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, being at present the district president of the seventh district, and thus ex-officio vice-president of the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In November, 1901, she was sent as delegate to the national convention at Fort Worth, Texas. She is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and an active worker in the same. For eight years she was a director of school district No. 3, in Berlin township, the only lady acting as a director in the county. She possessed marked literary talent and is a paid contributor to several periodicals. Mrs. King and family live in a pleasant home at Smith. In the personage of Mrs. King the vicinage that has the honor of being her residence and field of labor has an individuality which, while it may be somewhat rare, when its characteristic abilities and powers of accomplishment are associated with that of a highly educated and refined lady, yet it is by no means unique, in these days of co-education and expanding fields of operation for woman's work. In this case, however, a greater part of the labors which have aided in developing the abilities which characterize Mrs. King as an executive of a high order, were forced upon her by the death of her husband. Left with an undeveloped farm, and three orphan children to care for and educate, the latent powers of her nature, stimulated by the inherent ambition which is an inheritance in a large measure from her mother, who, at the age of eighty years, is active in moral and physical qualities, united with mother love for the children of her dead husband and aspiration for their future welfare, were aroused to that degree when the spirit of man or woman says "I will." The love of her husband in his life in making thoughtful provision for those dependent upon him by a liberal policy of life insurance fortunately enabled her, with greater ease than might otherwise have been the case, to accomplish the duties which she had assumed. Nevertheless, the ability she has displayed in the management of the farm, and all the cares and obligations resting upon her in the rearing of her family, may well excite emulation, not only on the part of other women similarly situated, but members of the sterner sex might imitate her methods with advantage to themselves. At the same time, while burdened with the cares and responsibilities unusual of assumption by ladies, she has found time to cultivate the amenities of social life, taking the lead in the efforts which the best women of our land are making in an organized way to further the cause of temperance and other good work for the elevation of humanity. Mrs. King had the satisfaction of seeing her labors rewarded in the appreciation of her loving care and efforts for her children by their present attainments, and their aspirations for future advancement in the accomplishment of knowledge and graces which dignify and bless the world.” |
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