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Wilfred Henry Edgerton, son of William Driggs and Helen Marion (Martin) Edgerton.                                                       PHOTO

Lena Dorothea Herr, daughter of John and Catherine (Keil) Herr.                                                                                             PHOTO

Children:

1. Ina Catherine Louise, b. April 27, 1896; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
2. Emerson William John, b. August 12, 1899; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
3. Clarence Arthur Stanley, b. February 1, 1901; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
4. Dorothy Marion, b. April 30, 1903; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
5. Florence May, b. May 23, 1905; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
6. Robert Leland, b. August 20, 1907; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
7. Ronald Bryan, b. October 9, 1908; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
8. Orville Henry, b. September 29, 1909; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
9. Bertram Herr, b. January 2, 1912; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.
10. Miriam Helen, b. February 22, 1913; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.

The following biography of Wilfred Henry Edgerton has been provided by Mr. Foster Dunwiddie, from his extensive family research.  Mr. Dunwiddie is a grandson of Wilfred Henry and Lena Dorothea (Herr) Edgerton through the eldest daughter, Ina Catherine Louise (Edgerton) Dunwiddie.

“Wilfred Henry Edgerton was the youngest son of William Driggs and Helen Marion (Martin) Edgerton.  As a young man he worked in the family livery stable on Spring Street.  In 1895 he was united in marriage to Lena Dorothea Herr, daughter of John and Catherine (Keil) Herr, the Rev. T. S. Johnson performing the ceremony at the home of the bride’s parents.  The attendants were Mr. Carl Ruedebusch; Miss Anna Herr, sister of the bride; Mr. Rudolph Guenther and Miss Gertrude Edgerton, sister of the groom.

After their marriage, Wilfred and Lena Edgerton set up housekeeping in an apartment at 310 South University Avenue owned by Rudolph McGlashan.  It was here that their first child, Ina Catherine Louise Edgerton, was born in 1896.  That summer the family moved into a new home across the street, at 313 South University Avenue that was built by Lena’s father, John Herr, her husband and brother-in-law.  He had been given the corner lot by his mother, Helen (Martin) Edgerton, who lived next door.

Wilfred Henry Edgerton was a veteran of the Spanish-American War.  He was First Sergeant of Company K, 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, a National Guard unit.  His enlistment records describe him as, “age, 27 yrs; height, 5 feet 7 inches; complexion, fair; eyes, blue; hair, light.”  He gave his occupation as “Painter”.

When war with Spain was declared on 21 April 1898, the Company was called to active duty.  One week later, on 28 April 1898, Company K left Beaver Dam for Camp Harvey in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  (Camp Harvey was located on the State Fair Grounds in Milwaukee.)  Two nephews, George Leland Edgerton and Ernest Selden Edgerton had enlisted as privates in the Company.

Company K left Milwaukee for further training at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, Georgia before embarking for Puerto Rico aboard La Grande Duchesse.  During this time, “Fred” Edgerton was sent home on special recruiting service.  Company K arrived in Puerto Rico on 28 July 1898.  They took part in only one battle, the capture of Coamo on the morning of 9 August 1898.  On 26 August 1898, the Company was ordered to return to the States.  Boarding the troop transport “Obdam” on August 27th, they sailed for home on 1 September 1898, arriving at Weehawken, New Jersey opposite New York City at 2:00 AM, Wednesday, 7 September 1898.  The Company arrived in Beaver Dam the evening of 9 September 1898.  Practically the whole town, headed by Harder's Military Band and the Fire Department, turned out to meet the Company.  The men were placed on two months furlough and were mustered out on 17 November 1898.

The Puerto Rico campaign was not without casualities.  George Leland Edgerton became sick in line of duty on 22 July 1898.  His illness was diagnosed as typhoid fever on July 27th and he was transferred to the hospital ship “Lampassass”.  He died enroute to America on 6 August 1898 and was buried at sea.  The George Leland Edgerton Camp No. 32, United Spanish War Veterans in Beaver Dam was named in his honor.

Wilfred Henry Edgerton was the first rural mail carrier to service the Beaver Dam area.  His daughter, Ina (Edgerton) Dunwiddie, recalled, “One time the cutter he drove came back upside down.  We were all afraid he had been killed.  When he returned home sometime later, he told us the horse had run away when he stopped to put mail in a box.”

However, he is best recalled as a painting contractor in Beaver Dam for over 50 years.  The garage behind his house at 313 South University Avenue was his paint shop from which he drove out in a Model T Ford to carry out his craft, the back seat piled high with cans of paint.

In later years, “Fred”, as he was called, was well known throughout Beaver Dam as an umpire of baseball games in the city.  He instilled his great love of sports in his children who competed on various teams while attending Beaver Dam High School.

Wilfred Henry Edgerton died at St. Joseph Hospital, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Friday, 15 October 1943, after a cerebral hemorrhage.  Funeral services were held at Grace Presbyterian Church in Beaver Dam on Tuesday, October 19th.”

The household of “Frederick Edgerton” was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Beaver Dam City (Ward 2); Dodge County, Wisconsin (pg. 35; dwelling #427; family #453; enum. June 19, 1900), as follows:

According to the above census record, Lena was the mother of two children, both of whom were still living.  Wilfred’s occupation was listed as “painter”.  The family was residing adjacent to Wilfred’s mother and sister, Helen and Olive Edgerton, who were enumerated as the next household on the census roll.  Both families were residing on University Place.

The household of “Fred Edgerton” was recorded in the 1910 Federal Census of Beaver Dam City (Ward 6) Dodge County, Wisconsin (pg. 237; dwelling #236; family #253; enum. April 21, 1910), as follows:

According to the above census record, Lena was the mother of eight children, all of whom were still living.  Wilfred’s occupation was lister as “painter – house”.  The family was residing at 313 University Place.

The household of Wilfred H. Edgerton was recorded in the 1920 Federal Census of Beaver Dam City (Ward 6) Dodge County, Wisconsin (pg. 50; dwelling #402; family #429; enum. January 13, 1920), as follows:

At the time of this census, the family was residing at 313 University Place.  Wilfred’s occupation was listed as “Painter – House” and Emerson was listed as a “Pattermaker – Stove Factory”.

The household of “Fred H. Edgerton” was recorded in the 1930 Federal Census of Beaver Dam City (Ward 6) Dodge County, Wisconsin (pg. 73; dwelling #52; family #54; enum. April 19, 1930), as follows:

At the time of this census, the family was residing at 313 South University Avenue.  Wilfred’s occupation was listed as “Decorator – Odd Jobs”.

Wilfred Henry Edgerton and his wife are buried together at the Old City Cemetery in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.  Their joint monument bears the following inscription:

EDGERTON

FRED

1871 – 1943

LENA

1872 – 1956

HIS WIFE

Original Source Documents:

1900 Federal Census – household of Wilfred Henry Edgerton; Beaver Dam City (Ward 2), Dodge Co., WI.

1910 Federal Census – household of Wilfred Henry Edgerton; Beaver Dam City (Ward 6), Dodge Co., WI.

1920 Federal Census – household of Wilfred Henry Edgerton; Beaver Dam City (Ward 6), Dodge Co., WI.

1930 Federal Census – household of Wilfred Henry Edgerton; Beaver Dam City (Ward 6), Dodge Co., WI.

Funeral notice – Wilfred Henry Edgerton; Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin) – Monday, October 18, 1943.

Gravestone photo – Wilfred Henry Edgerton & Mrs. Lena Dorothea (Herr) Edgerton; Old City Cemetery; Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI.