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The Edgerton Database |
Morton Lafayette Edgerton, son of James Murray and Sarah (Wakefield) Edgerton.
Morton Lafayette Edgerton was born August 13, 1838 in Niagara County, New York. He was the third son and fourth child of James Murray Edgerton and Sarah Wakefield. Morton made his living as a carpenter, a trade which he probably learned from his father. He resided most of his life in New York State (Yates County and Steuben County), later removing to Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was never married. Yates County Boys in Blue (Robert H. Graham; Penn Yan, New York, 1926; pp. 40, 152) gives the following two accounts of Morton L. Edgerton’s Civil War Service: “CO. G., 85TH INFANTRY...MORTON L. EDGERTON, of Starkey, enlisted at Rock Stream Oct. 15 aged 23 years. Joined for duty and enrolled at Elmira Nov. 15. Not mustered into the U.S. service. Absent from company from Dec. 3, and dropped as a deserter April 14, 1862. Subsequent service in Bat. K, 1st Art.” “1ST N.Y. ARTILLERY...MORTON L. EDGERTON, of Starkey, enlisted in Bat. K at Elmira Nov. 11, 1861 to serve 3 years, aged 23 (21) years. Joined for duty and enrolled same day and place, credited to the town of Starkey. Mustered into the U.S. service at Albany Nov. 20. Re-enlisted and re-mustered Dec. 26, 1863, at Brandy Station, Va, credited to the town of Minden, Montgomery county. Mustered out June 26, 1865, at Elmira. See also Co. G., 85th Infantry” Morton L. Edgerton applied for a Civil War invalid pension on July 15, 1890. The application was filed from the state of New York and cited Morton’s service in the First New York Light Artillery, Co. K (see National Archives Pension Applications; Application #877909, Certificate #830919). Following his father’s death in 1875, Morton apparently took over the family home in Rathbone, New York. He was listed as the head of household when the 1880 Federal Census was taken (Rathbone, Steuben County, New York; pg. 487; dwelling #127; family #129; enum. June 8, 1880). The family was enumerated as follows:
The household of Morton L. Edgerton was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Minneapolis (Ward 7), Hennepin County, Minnesota (pg. 113; dwelling #86; family #116; enum. June 4, 1900), as follows:
Morton’s occupation was listed as “carpenter”. The family was residing at 3127 15th Avenue South. Richard Wallace Edgerton (a descendant of Morton’s younger brother, Frank Marshall Edgerton), provides the following biographical notes for Morton L. Edgerton: “Morton Edgerton was a New York volunteer at the age of 25 years when he enlisted from the town of Starkey in Yates Co. on December 26, 1863. He was a private in Captain Solin W. Stockings Company K, First Regiment, of Arty, N.Y.S.V. as recorded on his Volunteer Enlistment document. A second paper, that of Discharge, is dated December 25, 1863 by reason "of Re-enlistment as a Veteran Volunteer." His physical description was 5'8 1/2", light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes. July 27, 1908 – Morton was living at the Minnesota Soldiers’ Home. A family document records that on that date he initiated a will with the Commandant therein to pay, upon his death, funeral expenses and left by will the balance of his estate and personal effects to his brother Frank Edgerton who was living at 3231 15th Avenue in Minneapolis.” Morton Lafayette Edgerton died at Minneapolis,
Minnesota on July 28, 1908. A copy of
his death certificate was filed with the Minnesota State Department of Health
(certificate #017314). According to the Lakewood Cemetery Interment
Records, Morton was buried on July 30, 1908 in the Veterans Grave Lot (Section
24, tier A1, grave 15). Morton’s
brother, James Madison Edgerton, was buried adjacent to him in the Veterans
Grave Lot, and his sister, Harriet Helen Edgerton, was buried in Section 21 (lot
295) of the general cemetery. Original Source Documents: 1880 Federal
Census – household of Morton Lafayette
Edgerton; Rathbone,
Steuben Co., NY. 1900 Federal
Census – household of Morton Lafayette
Edgerton; Minneapolis (Ward 7), Hennepin Co., MN. |
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