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Francis Irvin Edgerton, son of Robinson H. and Rhoda (Clemons) Edgerton.

Jane Louise Walt

Children:

1. Hester Ellen, b. January 17, 1870; Newport, Campbell Co., KY.
2. Louis Washington, b. March 2, 1872; Newport, Campbell Co., KY.
3. Horatio Charles, b. May 30, 1875; Newport, Campbell Co., KY.
4. infant, b. June 30, 1881; Newport, Campbell Co., KY.

Francis Irvin Edgerton was born January 17, 1845 (possibly February 17, 1845), one of the younger sons of Robinson H. and Rhoda (Clemons) Edgerton.  He was born at Wallingford, Vermont but removed at a young age with his parents to Jenny Township, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.  Curiously, Francis does not appear to be listed with his father’s household in the 1850 Federal Census of Wallingford, Rutland County, Vermont; however this enumeration has proven to be highly inconsistent with other confirmed data on this family.  Francis may have been the four-year-old son listed in the household as “George”.  At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, he was listed in the household of his father “R. H. Adgerton” in Jenny Township, Wisconsin, as “Franz I., aged 15, born in Vermont”.

Francis I. Edgerton enlisted as a private in the Union Army on December 28, 1863, giving his residence as Janesville, Wisconsin.  He was subsequently promoted to Sergeant and served in the 22nd Wisconsin Infantry (Company E).  He was transferred to the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry (Company U) on June 10, 1865.  Francis I. Edgerton later applied for a Civil War invalid pension on December 31, 1890; his widow, Jane L. Edgerton, applied for a widow's pension on January 21, 1904.  Both applications were filed from the state of Kentucky.  Much of information included here regarding Francis Edgerton and his family is derived from the affadavits found in his military pension file (#568-934).

Following the war, Francis removed to Campbell County, Kentucky – presumably circa 1865 - 1869.  He was married at Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky on April 5, 1869 to Miss Jane Louise Walt, a native of Newport.  The following typewritten affidavit of the marriage record is found in Francis’ military pension file (#568-934):

“I hereby certify that on the 5th day of April 1869, F. J. Edgerton of Jamesville [sic], Wisconsin 23 years of age, born at Veman [sic] was married to Jane Walt of Newport, aged 16 years, born at Newport, and single, by F. A. Stein Minister of the Methodist Episcal [sic] Church,

Dated Campbell County, KY

April 5, 1869.

Witness:  Mrs. Connor.

Truly Recorded, Ed Air Clerk”

The parentage of Mrs. Jane Louise (Walt) Edgerton has not been determined, but it is likely that she was related to the Mrs. “M. A. Walts”, with whom Francis and his family were residing at the time of the 1870 Federal Census (see below).  According to the age at death reported in her death record (see below), Jane was born March 30, 1853.

An affadavit of the family record found in Francis Edgerton’s military pension file reports that he and Jane had three children who survived to adulthood:  Hester Ellen, born January 17, 1870, (married August John Wolf); Louis Washington, born March 2, 1872 (married Zetelle Tedrow); and Horatio Charles, born May 30, 1875 (married Catherine Mary Weber).   The 1900 Federal Census (see below) indicates that there were three other children who had died young.  The burial records of Evergreen Cemetery in Newport document one infant who was born and died on June 30, 1881.

The family of “Frank Edget” was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky (pg. 313; dwelling #304; family #367; enum. June 9, 1870), as follows:

At the time of this census, the family was residing in the same dwelling as the family of Mrs. “M. A. Walts” (aged 46, born in Virginia), who was probably a relative of Mrs. Jane (Walt) Edgerton, possibly her mother or an aunt.

Francis and Zetelle (Tedrow) Edgerton were members of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Newport.  Their two elder children, Hester and Louis, were baptised there, the records of baptisms reading as following:

Esther Hellena, daugther of Francis Edgerton & Joanna Edgerton; born Jan. 17, 1870; baptised March 20, 1870; Catherine Goodrich, sponsor.

Louis Findly [sic], son of Francis Edgerton & Louisa Walt; born March 2, 1872; baptised March 24, 1872; Frederick Walt, sponsor.

The household of Francis Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky (pg. 85; dwelling #20; family #31; enum. June 1, 1880), as follows:

Francis I. Edgerton was listed in the 1890 Directory of Covington, Kentucky. His occupation was listed as engineer and his residence as 162 Eglantine, Newport. Louis Edgerton and Hester A. Edgerton were also listed at the same address.  In the 1892 Covington Directory, Francis was listed as “Frank I. Edgerton, engineer” with residence at 112 Washington Avenue, Newport. Also listed at this address were Hettie Edgerton, Horatio Edgerton (bolt header) and Louis W. Edgerton (printer).

The household of Francis I. Edgerton was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Newport (Ward 5), Campbell County, Kentucky (pg. 235; dwelling #2; family #2; enum. June 1, 1900), as follows:

There were numerous errors in this enumeration – so many that it is very likely the data was not provided by a family member (perhaps instead by a neighbor, which was not an unusual occurrence).  For instance, many of the relationships were incorrectly reported:  Francis and Jane were husband and wife, not in-laws; and Mary was the wife of Charles (ie. youngest son, Horatio Charles) not elder son Louis.  Louis was already married to Zetelle Tedrow and his household was enumerated elsewhere in Newport.   This enumeration also reports that Francis (actually Jane) was the mother of six children, three of whom were living; and that Mary was the mother of two children, neither of whom were still living.   The family’s residence was given as 945 Washington Avenue.

Francis Irvin Edgerton died at Newport, Kentucky on January 10, 1904.  The following affidavit of the death record is found in Francis’ military pension file (#568-934):

Newport, KY  Feb 6th 1904

This certifies that there is on file at this office a certificate of the death of:

Francis Irvin Edgerton, white, married, male, aged 58 yrs 1 mos 24 days.

Date of death = Jan 10 – 1904

Cause = Endocarditis

Place = 239 E 10th St.

Medical attendant = L. C. Wadsworth

Funeral director = L. Erschell

Place of burial = Evergreen Cemetery

Date of burial = Jan 12 – 1904

Respectfully,

Chas. J. Kehm, MD

Health Officer, Newport, KY

Mrs. Jane Louise (Walt) Edgerton survived her husband only a few months.  She died at Newport, Kentucky on September 4, 1904.  Her death was recorded in the 1904 Campbell County “Register of Deaths” (entry #331) as follows:  “Jane L. Edgerton, aged 51-5-5, died September 4, cause of death: entero-colites, residence: 229 E. 10th St., buried: Evergreen”.

Original Source Documents:

1870 Federal Census – household of Francis Irvin Edgerton; Newport, Campbell Co., KY.

1880 Federal Census – household of Francis Irvin Edgerton; Newport, Campbell Co., KY.

1900 Federal Census – household of Francis Irvin Edgerton; Newport, Campbell Co., KY.

Affidavit of Marriage Record – Civil War Invalid Pension File (Francis Irvin Edgerton), #568-934.

Affidavit of Family Record – Civil War Invalid Pension File (Francis Irvin Edgerton), #568-934.

Affidavit of Death Record – Civil War Invalid Pension File (Francis Irvin Edgerton), #568-934.

Death Record – Mrs. Jane (Walt) Edgerton; Campbell County Register of Deaths, 1904, pg. 17, #331.