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Charles Andrew Edgerton, son of James Harvey and Olive (Morgan) Edgerton.                                 PHOTO

Harriet Angenette Newcomb, daughter of Charles and Fannie (Hitchcock) Newcomb.

Children:

1. Charles Andrew, b. November 23, 1856; Northfield, Washington Co., VT.
2. Cora Ellen, b. January 23, 1859; Northfield, Washington Co., VT.
3. Harriet Eliza, b. May 26, 1868; Northfield, Washington Co., VT.

Charles Andrew Edgerton was born in Potsdam, New York on July 21, 1825, the second son and third child of James Harvey and Olive (Morgan) Edgerton.  He grew up in Potsdam, but upon his maturity settled in Northfield, Vermont (not far from his father’s hometown of Brookfield).  There he was married on March 7, 1852 to Harriet A. Newcomb, daughter of Charles and Fannie (Hitchcock) Newcomb, of Waitsfield, Vermont.  Harriet was born in Waitsfield on May 14, 1831.

Charles and Harriet Edgerton had three children – Charles Andrew, Jr., Cora Ellen, and Harriet Eliza.  The younger daughter, Harriet, died in infancy (less than a month old).  The family monument at Elmwood Cemetery also records another infant (probably stillborn) who died on February 24, 1874.

Charles was a clerk, cashier and merchant.  He resided in Northfield the entirety of his adult life, and was a prominent and highly respected member of the community.   In 1866, his elder brother, Orvis D., also settled in Northfield and the two brothers joined into partnership, their mercantile business being appropriately named Edgerton Brothers. 

The household of Charles Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Northfield, Washington County, Vermont (pg. 896; dwelling #2366; family #2339; enum. August 7, 1860), as follows:

The household of Charles A. Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Northfield, Washington County, Vermont (pg. 238; dwelling #647; family #671; enum. August 5, 1870), as follows:

The household of Charles A. Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Northfield, Washington County, Vermont (pg. 191; dwelling #264; family #280; enum. June 11, 1880), as follows:

The History of the Town of Northfield (John Gregory, 1878; pp. 170-171) gives the following biography of Charles Andrew Edgerton:

“CHARLES A. EDGERTON, Esq., was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, N.Y., July 21, 1825.  He is a son of James H. Edgerton, who was born in Meredith, Conn., September 27, 1796, and emigrated to Brookfield, Vt., when he was ten years old.  Mr. Edgerton came to Northfield in the Spring of 1847, and worked at the mechanical business several years.  In 1855 the Union Store Division, No. 678, was organized, and he was appointed agent, and managed it until it closed in 1857.  In the Spring of 1858 he commenced mercantile business in Union Block, with S. H. King, the style of the firm being Edgerton & King, doing a good business in a general way until the summer of 1860, when they dissolved, Mr. King taking a store in the new block east of the Universalist Church, and Mr. Edgerton kept the store in Union Block until 1866, when he formed a partnership with his brother, O. D. Edgerton, who moved to Northfield from Brasher Falls, N.Y., the firm being known as Edgerton Brothers, who continue to do business at the present time.

Mr. Edgerton was elected town Clerk in the Spring of 1865, and continued to hold the office till 1875, when he declined to served longer, on account of his large business.  He was for several years Treasurer of the Vermont Manufacturing Company, and in December, 1874, was appointed Superintendent, and continued to discharge the duties of Treasurer and Superintendent till the company’s shops were burned, December 14, 1876.  He has been a Director of the Northfield National Bank since January 13, 1874, and Vice President since January 9, 1877.  He has been a Director in the Graded and High School since its present organization, in 1873, and is a reliable, worthy man.

Mr. Edgerton married Harriet A. Newcomb, daughter of Charles and Fanny Newcomb, of Waitsfield, March 7, 1852, and they had two children:  Charles A., Jr., b 1856; Cora E., b 1857.  Both born in Northfield.”

The Vermont of Today (Arthur F. Stone, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc.; NY, 1929; pg. 327) provides the following biographical excerpt:

“Charles Andrew Edgerton, son of James Harvey Edgerton, was born in Potsdam and grew to manhood there on the home farm.  He was ambitious for larger opportunities than his native town afforded and so started on horseback for Boston.  Stopping to visit friends at Brookfield on the way, he was attracted by the newly built Central Vermont Railroad whose repair shops were at Northfield.  He settled there and learned the trade of pattern-maker and was employed in that capacity by the road.  Later he opened a store which he ran for many years under the name of Edgerton Brothers, his older brother, Orvis D., being his partner.  He was one of the prominent citizens of the town, was a director of the Northfield Savings Bank, justice of the peace for many years, town treasurer and town clerk.  He married Harriet Newcomb of Waitsfield, this State.”

Charles Andrew Edgerton died in Northfield, Vermont on May 14, 1895.  The record of his death (VR 3:25:22) states that he was a “merchant, married, aged 69 years, 9 months, 23 days, and was born in Potsdam, New York, son of Jas. and Olive Edgerton.”  The cause of death was recorded as “Brights disease”.

The household of Mrs. Harriet Edgerton was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Northfield, Washington County, Vermont (pg. 207; dwelling #305; family #365; enum. June 16, 1900), as follows:

According to the above census record, Harriet was the mother of four children, two of whom were still living.  Cora was listed as a “teacher of art”.

Mrs. Harriet (Newcomb) Edgerton survived her husband many years.  She died in Northfield on March 21, 1916, “aged 84 years, 10 months, 7 days”.  Her death certificate was filed at Northfield (VR 8:137) listing cause of death as “apoplexy –dur. 14 years” and “chronic heart disease”.

Charles and Harriet Edgerton were buried in the same plot at Elmwood Cemetery in Northfield village.  Also buried in the family plot are Charles and Harriet’s two daughters, Harriet and Cora, as well as Cora’s husband, Alfred Clark, and two in-laws, Fanny Diantha Newcomb and Eliza Newcomb Norris.  A joint family monument contains the following epitaphs for this family:

CHARLES A. EDGERTON / 1825 – 1895 / HARRIET A. NEWCOMB / His Wife / 1831 – 1916

FANNY DIANTHA NEWCOMB / 1829 – 1912 / ELIZA NEWCOMB NORRIS / 1848 – 1857

ALFRED B. CLARK / 1867 – 1949 / CORA EDGERTON / HIS WIFE / 1859 – 1944

HATTIE ELIZA / May 27 – June 20, 1868 / INFANT / Feb. 24, 1874