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The Edgerton Database |
Reuben Curtis Edgerton, son of Jacob and Mary (Stoddard) Edgerton.
Annette Hamblin, daughter of Isaac and Martha (Phinney) Hamblin.
Children:
Lydia O. Tiffany, daughter of John and Cordelia (Clark) Tiffany.
Children:
Reuben Curtis Edgerton was
born September 10, 1822 at Moriah, Reuben was raised in Reuben Curtis Edgerton was
married twice. He married first, on
June 30, 1847 at The household of “Ruben C.”
Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal
Census of Peoria,
Reuben Curtis Edgerton was
recorded as a head of household in the 1855
Illinois State Census of Victoria, Knox County, Illinois. His name was listed on the census roll as
“R. C. Edgerton” and his household consisted of the following individuals: 1 male “30 to 40” (Reuben); 1 male “under 10” (son Charles); 1 female “20 to 30” (wife Annette); and, 1 female “under 10” (daughter Ellen). Mrs. Annette (Hamblin)
Edgerton died March 18, 1859, presumably at The household of “R. C.”
Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal
Census of Victoria,
Reuben C. Edgerton was active in the abolitionist movement, and offered his home as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The following excerpt is from The Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County (Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois; 1886): “Dr. R. C. Edgerton…was quite prominent in the old
slavery days as one of the operators of the Underground Railroad. The Doctor relates that while living at “R. Curtis Edgerton, of The household of Reuben C.
Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal
Census of Altona,
The household of “R. C.” Edgerton was recorded in
the 1880 Federal
Census of
Altona Village (Walnut Grove),
The following biography of Reuben Curtis Edgerton was published in The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-made Men – Illinois Volume (Chicago & New York: American Biographical Publishing Co.; 1883; pp. 185-186):
“RUBEN CURTIS EDGERTON, one of the older class of medical practitioners in Knox county, is the fifth and youngest child, all sons, of Jacob and. Mary (Stoddard) Edgerton, and dates his birth in Essex county, New York, September 10, 1822. His father, who was a mechanic, was born in Paulet, Rutland county, Vermont, son of Jedediah Edgerton, a revolutionary pensioner, and grandson of Captain Edgerton, an emigrant from England. Jonathan Stoddard, the father of Mary, was also a revolutionary pensioner. Both families were originally from Connecticut, the Edgertons being early settlers at Norwich. Jacob Edgerton came as far west as Ohio in 1836, and located near Unionville, and while there Curtis attended the Western Reserve Institute at Kirtland, the school being in what was once a Mormon temple, and commenced teaching when sixteen years old. Three years afterward, 1839, the family came into this state, and settled at Galesburgh, and our subject completed an academic education in that city, continuing to teach part of each year, in all for ten years. His father died at Galesburgh in 1842, and his mother in 1856. He studied medicine with Doctor Hanaford of Trivoli, Peoria county, and Doctor Bunce, of Galesburgh; attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, studying at the same time with Doctor Brainard, president of that institution, until March, 1848. The next August he was married to Miss Annette Hamlin, who was from Maine, and a relative of Hon. Hannibal Hamlin. Doctor Edgerton practiced one year in Peoria county with his preceptor, one year at North Henderson, on the line of Knox and Warren counties, two years at Lancaster, Peoria county, and in the autumn of 1852 came into Knox county, and practiced at Victoria until the civil war began. In August, 1861, he went into the army as assistant surgeon of the 26th Illinois infantry, and remained about a year, when sickness compelled him to resign. He came to Altona, where his family had been living during his absence, but for ten years he was unable to do much professional work, and he is still suffering from disease contracted in the army. He draws a pension. The doctor’s practice is almost entirely confined to the office and village, he going into the country in extreme cases only, and when friends come for him with their own carriage. He is a skillful physician and surgeon. The people have great confidence in him, and with good health he would have a large practice. Before going into the service he used to write more or less for medical periodicals, but for a score of years has done nothing in that line. He is a member of the Military Tract Medical Society, and years ago was a member of the American Medical Association. He is a good deal interested in the cause of education, and has done good service as a member of the local school board. He is a republican, and a man of very decided views on political questions; is also a Master Mason. The first wife of Doctor Edgerton died in February, 1858, leaving three children, one son and two daughters. Charles is a cattle dealer in Waco, Texas, Ellen A. is the wife of Joseph Graham of Quincy, this state, and Mary Winona is a teacher, making her home with her father. Doctor Edgerton was married the second time in October, 1860, to Miss Lydia Tiffany, from Otsego county, New York, and they have one son, Hubert Curtis Edgerton, aged eleven years. The doctor is a man of good social qualities, of a kindly disposition, and a good neighbor, and is much respected by his circle of acquaintances.” Another interesting item is found in the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier (Bangor, Maine) on Thursday, May 19, 1892. Reuben Curtis Edgerton died
at Reuben Curtis Edgerton was
buried at the The following obituary notice for Reuben Curtis Edgerton was printed in The Galesburg Daily Mail on May 19, 1893: “EDGERTON, Dr. R.C. –
The sad news received here this morning of the death of Dr. Edgerton,
after illness extending through last winter.
The cause of death consumption.
Native of Reuben’s widow, Original Source Documents: 1850 Federal
Census – household of Reuben Curtis Edgerton; Peoria, Peoria Co., IL. 1855
Illinois State Census – household of
Reuben Curtis Edgerton; Victoria, Knox Co., IL. 1860 Federal Census
– household of Reuben Curtis Edgerton;
Victoria, Knox Co., IL. 1870 Federal
Census – household of Reuben Curtis
Edgerton; Altona, Knox Co., IL. 1880 Federal
Census – household of Reuben Curtis
Edgerton; Altona Village (Walnut Grove), Knox Co., IL. Newspaper
item – Reuben Curtis Edgerton; Bangor Daily Whig and Courier – Thursday,
May 19, 1892. Death
Certificate –Reuben Curtis Edgerton; Knox
Co., IL Death Certificates, unnumbered. |
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