The

Edgerton

Database

Home

Index

Sources

Search

Researchers

Notes...

Contact info

Photos

Links

Credits…

Josiah Wright Edgerton, son of Jacob and Mary (Stoddard) Edgerton.

Permelia S. Benedict, daughter of John and Eliza (Seward) Benedict.

Children:

1. Henry S., b. January 1839; Moriah, Essex Co., NY.
2. Rollin H., b. ~1840; Moriah, Essex Co., NY. 
3. Gordon Henry, b. May 10, 1842; Moriah, Essex Co., NY.
4. Marion Helen, b. November 29, 1844; Moriah, Essex Co., NY.
5. Flora S., b. March 1, 1847; Galesburg, Knox Co., IL.
6. Eliza S., b. January 10, 1849; Galesburg, Knox Co., IL.
7. Florence, b. ~1851; Galesburg, Knox Co., IL.
8. Arthur Jacob, b. March 29, 1853; Weller, Henry Co., IL.
9. Clarence, b. ~1856; Weller, Henry Co., IL.

Josiah Wright Edgerton was born October 19, 1812 in Moriah, Essex County, New York, the second son of Jacob and Mary (Stoddard) Edgerton.  He was named after his maternal great-grandfather, Josiah Wright.  Josiah was raised in Moriah and resided there for the first decade of his adulthood.  He made his living as a farmer.

Josiah’s wife was named Permelia S. Benedict, daughter of John and Eliza (Seward) Benedict of Pawlet, Vermont and Moriah, New York.  According to the 1850 and 1860 census enumerations of the family (see below), Permelia was born circa 1815 in the state of Vermont.  This information is corroborated by the Benedict family records, which give her birthdate and place as February 13, 1815 at Pawlet, Vermont.  Permelia was an elder sister of John L. Benedict, who was recorded in several census enumerations of Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois.  At the time of the 1870 Federal Census, John’s household included an “Elizabeth Edgington, aged 21, b. IL”, who was presumably Josiah and Permelia’s youngest surviving daughter, Eliza S.

Josiah and Permelia (Benedict) Edgerton had nine children – Henry S., Rollin H., Gordon Henry, Marion Helen, Flora S., Eliza S., Florence, Arthur Jacob and Clarence.  The second-eldest son, Rollin H., was killed in the Civil War.  Three of the children – Henry, Florence and Clarence – died in childhood; the remaining five children were each married and raised families.

The household of “Wright Edgerton” was recorded in the 1840 Federal Census of Moriah, Essex County, New York, with the following enumeration:

2 males “of 20 and under 30”  (Josiah and ?);

1 male “of 15 and under 20”  (? – probably younger brother John);

1 male “under 5 years of age”  (son Henry);

1 female “of 20 and under 30”  (wife Permelia); and,

1 female “of 15 and under 20” (?).

Circa 1845, Josiah removed with his family to Knox County, Illinois, where his father and several other relatives had settled in the previous decade.  Josiah resided in Knox County for about ten years, then removed to Weller Township in Henry County, Illinois (directly north of Knox County).

The household of Josiah W. Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of “Township 11N 1E 4th Meridian”, Knox County, Illinois (360; dwelling #708; family #714; enum. September 27, 1850), as follows:

Josiah W. Edgerton was recorded as a head of household in the 1855 Illinois State Census of Elba, Knox County, Illinois (pg. 250).  The enumeration of his household was as follows:

1 male “40 to 50”  (Josiah);

2 males “10 to 20”  (sons Rollin and Gordon);

1 male “under 10”  (son Arthur);

1 female “40 to 50”  (wife Permelia);

1 female “10 to 20”  (daughter Marion); and,

2 females “under 10”  (daughters Flora and Eliza).

The household of “J. W.” Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Weller, Henry County, Illinois (pg. 850; dwelling #2353; family #2248; enum. August 2, 1860), as follows:

Josiah Wright Edgerton died January 29, 1865, presumably at Weller, Illinois.  His wife, Permelia, died two years following, on January 21, 1867.  They are buried together at Galva Cemetery in Lynn Township, Illinois, in the family plot where their two infant children, Florence and Clarence, were previously interred.

Josiah and Permelia’s five surviving children were each married and removed from Illinois.  Gordon Henry was married to Elva Ellen Bird and resided in Adams County, Nebraska.  Marion Helen was married in 1865 to James Quimby Howey and later removed with him to Parson, Labette County, Kansas.  Flora married William W. Copley in Altona, Illinois in 1868; at the time of the 1900 Federal Census, Flora and William were living in Layton Township, Iowa.  Eliza was married to Artemas Chapin Mather.  The younger son, Arthur Jacob, removed to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census with a wife, Sarah Louisa.

Original Source Documents:

1840 Federal Census – household of Josiah Wright Edgerton; Moriah, Essex Co., NY.

1850 Federal Census – household of Josiah Wright Edgerton; “Township 11N 1E 4th Meridian”, Knox Co., IL.

1855 Illinois State Census – household of Josiah Wright Edgerton; Elba, Knox Co., IL.

1860 Federal Census – household of Josiah Wright Edgerton; Weller, Henry Co., IL.