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William Wilberforce Edgerton, son of John Leffingwell and Delia (Doud) Edgerton.                                                                                       PHOTO

Elizabeth Ann Davis, daughter of William and Sarah (Harpin) Davis.

Children:

1. Ethel Eva, b. July 12, 1882; Wheeling, Livingston Co., MO.
2. Leah, b. 1884; Wheeling, Livingston Co., MO.
3. Lillian, b. 1884; Wheeling, Livingston Co., MO.

William Wilberforce Edgerton was born on August 4, 1845, the third child and eldest son of John Leffingwell and Delia (Dowd) Edgerton.  Secondary accounts (see below) have listed William’s birthplace as either Waverly, New York or Lima, Ohio, the latter being reported on his death certificate and in his obituary.  Census records, however, consistently report that William was born in the state of Indiana.

William W. Edgerton was married on April 1, 1876 at Wheeling, Missouri to Miss Elizabeth Ann Davis, who was born at Dunkirk, New York on August 11, 1853.  Elizabeth was the daughter of William and Sarah (Harpin) Davis, natives of Bedford, England, who had emigrated to America in 1853, settling first at Dunkirk, New York and removing to Wheeling in June of 1872.

William W. and Elizabeth (Davis) Edgerton had three daughters:  Ethel Eva, born in 1882, and twins Leah and Lillian, born in 1884, both of whom died the same year.  The eldest daughter was married to Edgar Owsley Welch and resided in Chillicothe, Missouri; she had three children.

The following biography of William Wilberforce Edgerton is excerpted from Past and Present of Livingston County, Volume 2 (Major A. J. Roof; 1913; pp. 20-24):

“The life work of William Wilberforce Edgerton has in various aspects been of great benefit to the city of Chillicothe, in which he makes his home.  One of the foremost financial men of the city, he exerts as president of the Citizens National Bank of Chillicothe a potent influence upon the commercial growth of the city and its general upbuilding.  He was also active for many years before coming to Chillicothe as a practicing physician and as a merchant.  He was born August 4, 1845, near Lima, Ohio, a son of John Leffingwell and Delia (Doud) Edgerton.  The father was born in Pawlet, Vermont, December 2, 1797 [sic], and was reared in Vermont and New York.  He was well and favorably known as a teacher and lecturer.  On March 1, 1812, he enlisted for service in the war with England as a member of Captain Alexander McKenzie's command at Moriah, New York, and served valiantly for the preservation of his country.  He was a republican in politics and died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 3, 1870.  He was married February 4, 1832, to Miss Delia Doud, who was born at New Haven, Vermont, May 27, 1812 and was reared in that state.  She passed away at Sparta, Wisconsin, in 1868.  The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jedediah Edgerton, who was a native of Norwich, Connecticut, born in 1762, and his wife’s maiden name was Lucy Curtis.  He was reared and spent his life in Connecticut and Vermont and followed the occupation of farming.  His religion was that of the Congregational denomination and he was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war, enlisting from Pawlet, Vermont, and serving with the rank of captain during the conflict.  He passed away in New York state in 1848.  The father of Mrs. Delia (Doud) Edgerton was Silas Doud, who was born in 1773 at New Haven, Vermont, and was reared in that state, where he subsequently followed the occupation of farming.  He also was a Congregationalist.  He was prominent in his locality, having for several terms served in the state legislature.  His death occurred in the town of New Haven, Vermont, in 1826.  He was married in 1791 to Miss Irena Scovil, who was born in August, 1770, in Meriden, Connecticut, was reared in Connecticut and Vermont, was married in New Haven, the latter state, and passed away at the age of about one hundred years in 1870.  Mrs. Delia (Doud) Edgerton, the mother of our subject, was one of ten children born unto her parents, the others being: Betsey, who was born in 1793 and died in 1835; Laura, born in 1795, who passed away in 1881; Silas, who was born in 1797 and died in 1867; Hiram, who was born in 1799 and died in 1820; Amy, who was born in 1801 and died in infancy; Osmund, who was born in 1803 and died in 1865; Sylvester, who was born in 1806; Adeline, born in 1809; and Rozalia, born in 1815.  Mr. and Mrs. John Leffingwell Edgerton, who were married at New Haven, Vermont, had four children: Harriet Augusta Tenney, who was born in 1834 and died in 1898; Martha Irena Newton, born in 1838, who passed away in 1901; William W., the subject of this review; and John Howard, who was born in 1850 [sic] and makes his home in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas.

William W. Edgerton was reared at home and attended school in Waverly, New York.  In the spring of 1872 he graduated from Bush Medical College of Chicago, Illinois, with the degree of M. D., and in April of that year removed to Wheeling, Livingston county, Missouri, where he engaged in practice.  For nine years he followed his profession in that city and built up an extensive clientage during that time.  He was subsequently engaged for eight years in the general merchandise business and his efforts in that direction were attended by success.  In August, 1889, he came to Chillicothe, Missouri.  With experienced eye he immediately recognized the necessity of a banking institution in this city and was active in the organization of the Citizens National Bank, of which he has since served as an officer continuously, acting as cashier for eight years and subsequently filling the office of vice president, being later elected to the presidency.  He has guided the policies of the bank with great circumspection and has been instrumental in making this institution one of the foremost in this section of the country.  Under his able management the resources of the bank have increased wonderfully and the foremost individuals and many of the important enterprises of the city do business with his institution or are depositors.

On April 1, 1876, Mr. Edgerton was married at Wheeling, Missouri, to Miss Elizabeth Davis, who was born August 11, 1853, in Dunkirk, New York.  They were the parents of three children: Ethel, who was born in Wheeling in 1882 and graduated in 1900 from the Chillicothe high school, subsequently attending Stephens College at Columbia, Missouri, and who in 1907 married Edgar O. Welch, residing in Chillicothe; and Leah and Lillian, twins, born in 1884, both of whom died the same year.  Mr. and Mrs. Edgar O. Welch have three children: Edgerton, born July 3, 1908; Owsley, born December 3, 1910; and Catharine Elizabeth, born September 29, 1912.

Mr. Edgerton is a republican in his political views and has always taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to the public welfare.  He has been honored with election to the mayor's chair and during his administration has brought about many important improvements which have greatly benefited the city.  He is a veteran of the Civil war, receiving a government pension.  In the spring of 1862 he enlisted for service in Company A, One Hundred and Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry and served in the ranks for three years, being discharged in June, 1865, at the close of the war.  He is a member of the Masonic order.  In whichever capacity one may review the life work of Mr. Edgerton it has always been one of usefulness and service and he has attained success not only as physician, healing the sick and helping the suffering, but also as a merchant and financier, and his labors wherever exerted have resulted in benefit to mankind.”

For another excellent biography of William Wilberforce Edgerton, please visit the University of Houston Library Web Site.  In addition to a brief synopses of William’s life and military career, the website also contains an inventory of William W. Edgerton’s correspondence (most written to his immediate family during the Civil War), which were donated to the library following his death.

At the time of the 1880 Federal Census, William and his wife, Elizabeth, were residing in the household of her parents, William and Sarah Davis, in Wheeling Township, Livingston County, Missouri (pg. 130; dwelling #30; family #33; enum. June 3, 1880).  The family was enumerated as follows:

William W. Edgerton applied for a Civil War invalid pension on August 8, 1892.  The application was filed from the state of Missouri and cited William’s service in 107th New York Infantry (A Co.).  William’s widow, “Elizabeth A. Edgerton” applied for a widow’s pension on December 28, 1931, also from the state of Missouri (see National Archives Pension Applications; Application #1124743, Certificate #1139594; and Application #1708655, Certificate #A92332).

The household of William W. Edgerton was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Chillicothe City (Ward 2), Livingston County, Missouri (pg. 57; dwelling #226; family #230; enum. June 11-12, 1900), as follows:

According to the above census record, Elizabeth was the mother of three children, one of whom was still living.  William’s occupation was listed as “Bank Pres’t”, and Ethel was noted as “at school”.

The household of William W. Edgerton was recorded in the 1910 Federal Census of Chillicothe Township, Livingston County, Missouri (dwelling #145; family #145; enum. April 22, 1910), as follows:

According to the above census record, Elizabeth was the mother of three children, one of whom was still living.  William’s occupation was listed as “president – bank”; and Edgar was listed as a “farmer – general farm”.  The family was residing at 1003 Locust Street.

William Wilberforce Edgerton died at Chillicothe, Missouri on November 11, 1931.  The following data is abstracted from his death certificate (on file at the Missouri State Archives, certificate #38226):

Name:  William Wilberforce Edgerton

Death:  November 11, 1931, Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Missouri

Age:  86 years, 3 months, 6 days

Birth:  August 4, 1845, Lima, Ohio

Marital Status:  married (spouse: Elizabeth Ann Edgerton)

Occupation:  Bank President

Father:  John Leffingwell Edgerton (b. Vermont)

Mother:  Delia Doud (b. Vermont)

Burial:  November 12, 1931, Chillicothe, Missouri

Informant:  Ethel Eva Welch (Daughter)

Mrs. Elizabeth Ann (Davis) Edgerton survived her husband just a few years, dying at Chillicothe, Missouri on June 14, 1935.  The following data is abstracted from her death certificate (on file at the Missouri State Archives, certificate #20305):

Name:  Mrs. E. Ann Edgerton

Death:  June 14, 1935, Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Missouri

Age:  81 years, 10 months, 3 days

Birth:  August 11, 1853, New York

Marital Status:  widow

Father:  Wm Davis (b. England)

Mother:  Sarah Harten (b. England)

Burial:  June 15, 1935, Edgwood

Informant: E. O. Welch, Chillicothe, Missouri

The following obituary for Mrs. Elizabeth Ann (Davis) Edgerton appeared in The Chillicothe Constitution Tribune on Saturday, June 15, 1935:

“MRS. W. W. Edgerton Died at Age of 81.

Passed Away at Her Locust Street Home Friday Evening; Funeral Services This Afternoon.

Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Edgerton, widow of W. W. Edgerton, for years a leading banker of Chillocothe, died at her home, 1003 Locust street, Friday evening at 8 o’clock following an illness of several months.  The body was taken to the Norman Funeral Home where it was prepared for burial and returned to the family home at 1 o’clock this afternoon, from which place funeral services will be held at 3 o’clock this afternoon, conducted by Rev. M. Q. Stevenson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.  Burial will be in Edgewood.

Elizabeth Ann Davis was born August 11, 1853, at Dunkirk, N.Y.  She was united in marriage to Mr. Edgerton, then a practicing physician at Wheeling, April 1, 1876.  They were the parents of three children, Ethel, now Mrs. E. O. Welch, the only surviving member of the family, and Lea and Lillian, twins, both of whom died in infancy.

The family moved to Chillicothe in August, 1889, and Mrs. Edgerton had since made her home here.

Surviving, also, are three grandchildren, Owsley and Edgerton Welch and Mrs. Elizaeth DeWitt.”

William W. Edgerton and his wife, Elizabeth, are buried side-by-side at Edgewood Cemetery in Chillicothe, Missouri.   William and Elizabeth’s daughter, Ethel (Edgerton) Welch, and her husband, Edgar O. Welch, were later buried in the family plot, which is marked with a joint monument bearing the inscription “EDGERTON / WELCH”.  The inscriptions on the individual footstones read as follows:

W. W. / EDGERTON / 1845 – 1931

ELIZABETH A. / EDGERTON / 1853 – 1935

ETHEL E. / WELCH  / 1882 – 1966

EDGAR O. / WELCH / 1882 – 1938

Original Source Documents:

Marriage Certificate – William Wilberforce Edgerton & Elizabeth Ann Davis; Livingston Co., MO Vital Records, Marriages, pg. 331, #3.

1880 Federal Census – household of William Davis; Wheeling Township, Livingston Co., MO.

1900 Federal Census – household of William Wilberforce Edgerton; Chillicothe City (Ward 2), Livingston Co., MO.

1910 Federal Census – household of William Wilberforce Edgerton; Chillicothe Township, Livingston Co., MO.

Death Certificate – William Wilberforce Edgerton; Missouri Death Certificates, #38226.

Obituary – William Wilberforce Edgerton; The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune – Wednesday, November 11, 1931.

Gravestone photo –William Wilberforce Edgerton; Edgewood Cemetery; Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO.

Death Certificate – Mrs. Elizabeth Ann (Davis) Edgerton; Missouri Death Certificates, #20305.

Obituary – Mrs. Elizabeth Ann (Davis) Edgerton; The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune – Saturday, June 15, 1935.

Gravestone photo – Mrs. Elizabeth Ann (Davis) Edgerton; Edgewood Cemetery; Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO.