The

Edgerton

Database

Index

Sources

Orvis Darwin Edgerton, son of James Harvey and Olive (Morgan) Edgerton. PHOTO

born:	August 15, 1821; Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., NY. (GI)
died:	February 18, 1900; Northfield, Washington Co., VT. (VR 4:14:12)
buried:	Elmwood Cemetery; Northfield, Washington Co., VT. (GI)

married:

January 25, 1849; Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence Co., NY.

Roxana Sophia Taylor, daughter of Fisk and Fanny (Dart) Taylor.

born:	April 25, 1824; Keene, Essex Co., NY. (Northfield VR DC 5:67) GI)
died:	December 22, 1904; Northfield, Washington Co., VT. (VR DC 5:67) (GI)
buried:	April 18, 1905; Elmwood Cemetery; Northfield, Washington Co., VT. (VR BP 1:30) (GI)

Children:

Charles Darwin, b. August 25, 1856; Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence Co., NY.

Orvis Darwin Edgerton was born in Potsdam, New York on August 15, 1821, the eldest son of James Harvey and Olive (Morgan) Edgerton. He was raised in Potsdam and upon his maturity, apparently resided briefly in Ohio State. He soon returned to his hometown, though, and was married, on January 25, 1849, to Roxana Sophia Taylor, daughter of Fisk and Fanny (Dart) Taylor, of nearby Brasher Falls. They had one son, Charles Darwin, born in Brasher Falls on August 25, 1856.

Orvis was a businessman and merchant. He resided many years in Brasher Falls, and later removed to Northfield, Vermont, where he entered into business with his younger brother, Charles Andrew.

The household of Orvis D. Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Northfield, Washington County, Vermont (pg. 191; dwelling #269; family #286; enum. June 11, 1880), as follows:

Name	Rel.	Age	Bp	F Bp	M Bp	Occ
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orvis D. Edgerton		58	NY	CT	VT	dry goods merchant
Roxanna S.	wife	56	NY	NH	NH	keeping house
Charles D.	son	23	NY	NY	NY	law student
Hellen Duggan	servant	38	Ireland	Ireland	Ireland	house servant

The History of the Town of Northfield (John Gregory, 1878; pp. 169-170) gives the following biography of Orvis Darwin Edgerton:

“ORVIS DARWIN EDGERTON, Esq., was born in Potsdam, N.Y. , August 25, 1821, and was the second of a family of seven children. His father, James Harvey Edgerton, was among the early settlers of that county, from Brookfield, in this State. The minority of Mr. Edgerton was passed very little different from that of many others – going to a district school, working on a farm, and at mechanical business with his father, teaching school, etc., with a few terms at the St. Lawrence Academy.”

In the spring of 1843 he went to Ohio, which was then considered ‘far West’. For three years from the spring of 1846 he was with F. & T. R. Taylor, building a fork factory at Brasher Falls, N.Y., putting in the machinery, and making and selling forks and hoes.

In January, 1849, he was married to Roxana Sophia Taylor, daughter of the senior member of the firm.

The next spring he purchased a stock of goods, consisting of drugs and medicines, groceries, dry goods, etc., and for several years was engaged in mercantile business with others, and in outside operations of butter, cattle, horses, etc.

In the spring of 1856 he sold out to his partners, and for ten years kept an office as Justice of the Peace, and business naturally connected with the office; held several town offices; was Postmaster during President Fillmore’s administration, and was for four years Justice of the Sessions, or Assistant Judge for the county.

In August, 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Edgerton’s first and only child was born, Charles Darwin Edgerton, who is now in his senior year in Dartmouth College.

In 1866 he sold his entire interest in Brasher, and removed to Northfield, where he formed a partnership with his brother, C.A. Edgerton, in the mercantile business, and has since resided. Mr. Edgerton has a literary taste, possesses scholarly attainments, was an early advocate for free schools, and since his residence has identified himself with all interests having in view the public welfare. He has been village and town Treasurer, two years one of the Selectmen of the town, and four years one of the Trustees of the Savings Bank, all of which positions he has filled with credit and fidelity. As a business man he has been successful; is honest and industrious, caring for others as for himself, and by example and precept studying to improve the morals of the community. He is a respected member of the Congregational church, and, while he is not bigoted in his religious views, consistently adheres to his profession of faith, and ornaments it by a well ordered and consistent Christian character.”

Orvis D. Edgerton died in Northfield, Vermont on February 18, 1900. According to his death record (VR 4:14:12), he was a “merchant, married, aged 78 years, 6 months, and 3 days” and had died of “general debility”. His parents are listed as “Jas. H and Olive Edgerton”. Orvis’ gravestone inscription (see below) lists an alternate date of February 20th.

Mrs. Roxana (Taylor) Edgerton survived her husband four years. She died, also in Northfield, on December 22, 1904. Her death certificate (Northfield VR 5:67), states that she was a widow, aged “80 years, 7 months, 27 days” and was born in Keene, New York, daughter of Fisk Taylor and Fanny Dart. The cause of death is given as “congestion of the lungs – duration, 5 days”.

Orvis and Roxana Edgerton were buried in Elmwood Cemetery, in the village of Northfield. Their only son, Charles Darwin, and his wife, Roxana, were later buried in the same plot there. A joint monument contains the following epitaphs for Orvis and Roxana Edgerton:

ORVIS D. EDGERTON 21, AUG. 1821, 20, FEB. 1900

ROXANA S. EDGERTON 25, APR. 1824, 22, DEC. 1904

On the opposite side of the monument are inscription for their son and daughter-in-law.