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Rollin Augustus Edgerton, son of Marson and Betsey Melissa (Brown) Edgerton.

Emma Amelia Downes, daughter of James Brewster and Emily Eliza (Morgan) Downes.

Children:

1. Charles Rollin, b. November 22, 1868; Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.
2. Morgan Brown, b. November 24, 1872; Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.

Rollin Augustus Edgerton was born at Pawlet, Vermont on October 27, 1840.  He was the only child of Marson Edgerton and his first wife, Betsey Melissa Brown.  Rollin’s mother died in 1847, and Rollin subsequently went to live with his grandfather, Milton Brown, who also resided in Pawlet.  In the 1850 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont, Rollin was enumerated in the household of Milton Brown (pg. 284; dwelling #1894; family #2685; enum. October 26, 1850) as, “Rollin A. Edgerton, aged 9, b. Vermont”. 

In the latter 1850’s, Rollin’s father removed to New York City with his family, including second wife, Lucy, and two sons, Edward and Charles.  It is not known whether Rollin went to New York City with the family or remained in Pawlet.  By the early 1860’s, however, Rollin had moved to Fremont, Ohio, where other members of his family (including his uncles Chester Edgerton and Gilbert G. Edgerton) had previously settled. 

At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, Rollin A. Edgerton was residing in Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio.  He was enumerated in the household of George Canfield (pg. 150; dwelling #164; family #176; enum. June 1, 1860), as follows:

“Rolen A. Edgerton, of Ohio” enlisted on April 24, 1861, “aged 20”, as a sergeant in the F Company, 8th Infantry Regiment of Ohio.  The company was not active in any battles and Rollin was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio on August 18, 1861.  He re-enlisted on November 14, 1861 in the S Company, 72nd Infantry Regiment (Ohio).  He was promoted to Full Qtr Master Sergeant a day later and transferred to Company S.  On January 15, 1863, he was promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to Company E.  The 72nd Ohio Infantry was active in over thirty battles in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, between April 1862 and April 1865.  Among these were the battles at Shiloh (Tennessee) and Vicksburg (Mississippi).  Rollin Edgerton resigned his commission in the 72nd regiment on September 28, 1864 (see Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio, 1886).  Pawlet for One Hundred Years (Hiel Hollister; Albany, New York: J. Munsell; 1867; pg. 27) also references “Lt. Rollin A. Edgerton of Ohio, son of Marson Edgerton” as a Pawlet native who served in the Civil War.

Following the Civil War, Rollin returned to Fremont, Ohio, where he was married on January 1, 1866, to Emma Amelia Downes, daughter of James Brewster and Emily Eliza (Morgan) Downs.  Emma was born at Fremont, Ohio on August 5, 1844.

In 1865, Rollin and Emma removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they resided until Rollin’s death in 1900.  They had two sons: Charles Rollin, b. November 22, 1868; and Morgan Brown, b. November 24, 1872.

Rollin was mentioned in the will of his younger, half-brother, Edward Edgerton, (dated May 22, 1888) as “of Little Rock, Arkansas”.  According to the will, Rollin was to receive one-half of the residual estate.

The following biography of Rollin Augustus Edgerton is excerpted from Story of Our Post Office, The Greatest Department in all its Phases (Marshall Cushing; Boston, Massachusetts: A.M. Thayer & Co. Publishers; 1893; pg. 775):

“Rollin A. Edgerton, postmaster at Little Rock, and a resident of that city since 1865, is a native of Rutland County, Vermont.  He was born in Pawlet in 1840.  At the age of twelve he removed to Potsdam, N. Y., attending the academy there four years; after which he went to Fremont, Ohio, where his father was then residing.  He was a clerk in a hardware store when President Lincoln issued his call for seventy-five thousand men, and he at once enlisted in the 8th Ohio Infantry.  He was mustered out as a sergeant soon after the expiration of three month's term, and immediately entered the 72d Ohio Infantry for three years, was made quartermaster's sergeant, then promoted to second lieutenant and then to first.  He participated in the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, the battle of Jackson, the sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, and in all the campaign made by the Army of the Tennessee up to his muster out in December, 1804.

Early in 1865 General Edgerton made Little Rock his home, and lie has resided there continuously. In April, 1870, he was commissioned by President Grant as receiver of public moneys.  He was appointed postmaster by President Arthur in 1881, and again by President Harrison in 1889.  He has been six times elected a member .of the school board of his city, for three years each time. He was formerly a director in the Iron Mountain Railroad Company and president of the bridge company which erected the lirst railway bridge across the Arkansas River.  In January, 1866, he was married to Miss Emma A. Downs, of Fremont, Ohio.  They have two sons, Charles R. and Morgan B.; the former now engaged in business, and the latter a student at Cornell University.  Mr. Edgerton is a Grand Army man and a companion in the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion.”

The household of Rollin A. Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Little Rock (Ward 3), Pulaski County, Arkansas (dwelling #14; family #18; enum. July 8, 1870), as follows:

The household of Rollin A. Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Little Rock (Ward 1), Pulaski County, Arkansas (dwelling #400; family #407; enum. June 16, 1880), as follows:

“Rollin A. Edgerton” was listed in the 1893-94 Directory of Little Rock, Arkansas with a residence at “1114 Scott”.  Also listed at the same address were “Charles R. Edgerton, clerk” and “Morgan B. Edgerton, student”, both sons of Rollin and Emma Edgerton.  His business was given as secretary of the Little Rock City School Board.  In the same Directory, he was listed twice again in a business capacity.  First as secretary of the Little Rock City School Board with offices at “s w corner 8th and Louisiana”; and second, as “R. A. Edgerton”, secretary of the Little Rock Cooperage Co. with offices at “Post Office building; Factory Baring Cross”.

Rollin Edgerton was similarly listed in the subsequent directory of 1895-96.  “Charles R. Edgerton” appears again in this directory as a bookeeper in the “Sou Cotton Oil Co”.  In the 1897-98 Little Rock Directory an additional address was listed: “123 w 2d”.  Charles R. Edgerton was listed again, but without particulars (see Polk’s Little Rock Directory; R. L. Polk and Company, 1893-1898).

At the time of the 1900 Federal Census, Rollin and his wife, Emma, were residing in Big Rock Township (a district of Little Rock City), as “roomers” in the household of Robert Cook (Little Rock, Ward 6, Pulaski Co., AR; pg. 343; dwelling and family # illegible; enum. June 15-16, 1900).  They were enumerated as follows:

According to the above census record, Emma was the mother of two children, both of whom were still living.  Rollin’s occupation was listed as “capitalist”.  The family was residing at 160 South Main Street.

Curiously, Rollin’s wife, Emma A. Edgerton, was also enumerated in the 1900 Federal Census of Los Angeles, California.  She was recorded as a head of household, residing with her elder son, Charles R., in Los Angeles City (Ward 4), Los Angeles County, California (pg. 237; dwelling #185; family #226; enum. June 7, 1900).  They were enumerated as follows:

The family was residing at 1221 Trenton Avenue.

Rollin Augustus Edgerton died at Little Rock, Arkansas on November 27, 1900 and was buried at the Little Rock National Cemetery.  His widow, Emma, subsequently went to live with her younger son, Morgan Brown Edgerton, in Berwyn, Illinois, where she resided until her death in 1914.

Our thanks are extended to Thomas Martin Edgerton of Western Springs, Illinois, who has provided most of the information included here regarding the descendants of Rollin Augustus Edgerton.  Thomas is a great-grandson of Rollin and Emma (Downes) Edgerton through their younger son, Morgan Brown Edgerton.

Original Source Documents:

1850 Federal Census – household of Milton Brown; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

1860 Federal Census – household of George Canfield; Fremont, Sandusky Co., OH.

1870 Federal Census – household of Rollin Augustus Edgerton; Little Rock (Ward 3), Pulaski Co., AR.

1880 Federal Census – household of Rollin Augustus Edgerton; Little Rock (Ward 1), Pulaski Co., AR.

1900 Federal Census – household of Rollin Augustus Edgerton; Big Rock Twp., Pulaski Co., AR.

1900 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Emma Amelia (Downs) Edgerton; Los Angeles (Ward 4), Los Angeles Co., CA.

Obituary – Rollin Augustus Edgerton; Fremont Messenger; Tuesday, December 18, 1900.

Death Certificate – Mrs. Emma Amelia (Downs) Edgerton; Illinois State Death Certificates; #0043852.

Obituary – Mrs. Emma Amelia (Downs) Edgerton; Fremont Daily News – Wednesday, December 31, 1919.

Gravestone photo – Rollin Augustus Edgerton; Little Rock National Cemetery; Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.

Gravestone photo – Mrs. Emma Amelia (Downs) Edgerton; Little Rock National Cemetery; Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.