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DeWitt Clinton Edgerton, son of Ebenezer Leffingwell and Edna Amanda (Harris) Edgerton.

Susan Hannah Robison, daughter of William H and Elizabeth (Neely) Robison.

Children:

1. Edna Elizabeth, b. September 12, 1855; Shelby Co., IL.
2. Charles Jerome, b. August 22, 1858; Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO.
3. Agnes Amelia, b. May 16, 1861; Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO.
4. Morris Clinton, b. April 20, 1862; Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO.
5. Elmer Robison, b. July 23, 1867; Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO.

DeWitt Clinton Edgerton was born on December 25, 1826 at Moriah, New York, the fourth son and sixth child of Ebenezer Leffingwell and Edna Amanda (Harris) Edgerton.  There is currently no account of DeWitt’s childhood or early adult life.  His mother died shortly after DeWitt’s third birthday, and his father was remarried to Mrs. Lucetta Bradley.  It appears that the majority of the Edgerton siblings removed to the city of Rochester, in Monroe County, New York, following the death of their mother.

DeWitt made his living as an insurance agent.  He was known variously as “Dewitt C. Edgerton”, “D. C. Edgerton” and “D. W. C. Edgerton”, the only known reference to his full name being found on his gravestone at Edgewood Cemetery in Chillicothe, Missouri.

DeWitt Clinton Edgerton was married on December 7, 1854 at Lockport, New York to Susan Hannah Robison, daughter of William H. and Elizabeth (Neely) Robison.  Susan (aka. “Susannah”) was born December 22, 1823 at Northumberland, Pennsylvania.  DeWitt and Susan resided initially in Shelby County, Illinois, where their eldest daughter, Edna Elizabeth, was born in the year 1855.  The family may also have resided for a brief period in Jacksonville (Morgan County) where DeWitt’s elder brother, Urban Curtis, settled circa 1857.

DeWitt and Susan (Robison) Edgerton had five children – Edna Elizabeth, Charles Jerome, Agnes Amelia, Morris Clinton and Elmer Robison.  Tragically, only the eldest daughter lived past the age of three.  The other four children were buried in the family plot at Edgewood Cemetery in Chillicothe.  The individual gravestones there were inscribed with the complete dates of birth and death for each child.

DeWitt Clinton Edgerton ultimately settled in Chillicothe, Livingston County, Missouri.  According to the 1896 Livingston County Atlas and Plat Map, Dewitt arrived in Chillicothe in the year 1859.  His occupation was listed as “Real Estate”.

The household of “Dewit C. Egerton” was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Chillicothe, Livingston County, Missouri (pg. 480; dwelling #5; family #5; enum. June 14, 1870), as follows:

The household of “D. W. C. Edgerton” was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Chillicothe, Livingston County, Missouri (pg. 92; dwelling #359; family #367; enum. June 14, 1880), as follows:

Mrs. Susan (Robison) Edgerton was a member of the Grace Church of Chillicothe, Missouri.  She was confirmed at the Church on December 10, 1889 by Rev. J. H. Waterman, Minister, and was subsequently listed as a communicant in the church records under the dates January 1, 1892 and April 1, 1903.  Her name was written in the church records variously as “Mrs. D. W. C. Edgerton”, “Susannah Hannah Edgerton” and “Mrs. Susan Hannah Edgerton”.

DeWitt Clinton Edgerton died at Chillicothe, Missouri on May 29, 1898.  He was buried in the family plot at Edgewood Cemetery, where his four infant children had previously been interred.  His gravestone there was inscribed with the complete dates of his birth and death.

“D. W. C. Edgerton” left a Last Will and Testament, which was filed with the Livingston County Probate Court (Box #846).  According to the probate record, DeWitt died in 1898 and his estate was administered by “W. W. Edgerton” – that is, William Wilberforce Edgerton, DeWitt’s first cousin.  DeWitt’s will mentioned the following heirs: Susan H. Edgerton (widow), Edna E. Swain (daughter), Bertha E. Swain (granddaughter) and Virgil E. Swain (grandson).

The household of Mrs. “S. H. Edgerton” was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Chillicothe (Ward 3), Livingston County, Missouri (pg. 68; dwelling #55; family #56; enum. June 5, 1900), as follows:

According to the above census record, Susan was the mother of one child who had already died (incorrect).  The family was living at 437 Vine Street.

Mrs. Susan Hannah (Robison) Edgerton died on November 26, 1908, presumably at Chillicothe, Missouri.  She was buried beside her husband in the family plot at Edgewood Cemetery, where her gravestone lists her full name and records the complete dates of her birth and death.   A record of Susan’s burial was entered in the registers of the Grace Church, under the name “Mrs. Susan Hannah Edgerton”.  According to the record, Susan had died on November 25, 1908 [sic], aged 85 years, and was buried at Edgewood Cemetery on November 28, 1908, by Rev. Arthur Griffin, Minister.  Her residence was listed as “Madison [St.]”, and the cause of death was given as paralysis.

Original Source Documents:

1870 Federal Census – household of DeWitt Clinton Edgerton; Chillicothe, Livingston Co, MO.

1880 Federal Census – household of DeWitt Clinton Edgerton; Chillicothe, Livingston Co, MO.

1900 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Susan Hannah (Robison) Edgerton; Chillicothe (Ward 3), Livingston Co, MO.

Gravestone photo – DeWitt Clinton Edgerton; Edgewood Cemetery; Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO.

Gravestone photo – Mrs. Susan Hannah (Robison) Edgerton; Edgewood Cemetery; Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO