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Abel Edgerton, son of John and Olive (Fletcher) Edgerton.

Adaline Maria Gilbert, daughter of Cyrus and Sybil (Bundy) Gilbert.

Children:

1. Albert Abel, b. September 18, 1859; Albion, Calhoun Co., MI.
2. Cyrus, b. December 22, 1861; Albion, Calhoun Co., MI.
3. Harriet Alice, b. July 15, 1863; Albion, Calhoun Co., MI.
4. Minnie Alice, b. March 26, 1866; South Haven, Van Buren Co., MI.
5. Ava Adaline, b. December 16, 1868; South Haven, Van Buren Co., MI.
6. Cassius Abel, b. August 18, 1873; South Haven, Van Buren Co., MI.

Abel Edgerton was born at Mansfield, Connecticut on November 27, 1829, the eldest son of John and Olive (Fletcher) Edgerton.  His full name may have been “John Abel Edgerton” (per the 1850 Federal Census of his father’s household, where he was listed as “John A. Edgerton”), but he appears to have gone uniformly by the name of “Abel Edgerton”.  Abel was raised in Mansfield, Connecticut.  He earned his living as a farmer, carpenter and laborer.

The precise date of Abel’s birth is a matter of some disagreement.  According to his death certificate (Michigan Dept. of Health, year 1907, #865), he was born in Connecticut on November 27, 1828, the son of “John Edgarton” and “Olive Willis” (actually Olive Fletcher).  This date, however, would predate the marriage of his parents on December 28, 1828, as reported in the Vital Records of Mansfield, Connecticut (Book 2, pg. 42).  It is probable that Abel was actually born in November 1829, as reported in the 1900 Federal Census (see below).  This would also agree better with other census enumerations of Abel’s family.

Abel Edgerton was probably the “Abel Egerton, farmer, aged 22, born in Connecticut”, who was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, residing in the household of Norman Hubbard (pg. 389; dwelling #479, family #525; enum. October 21, 1850).

In the early to mid-1850’s, Abel Edgerton removed from Connecticut and settled in southwestern Michigan.  He resided for a few years in Albion (Calhoun County) and then settled permanently in South Haven (Van Buren County).

Abel was married on June 30, 1857 at Albion, Michigan to Mrs. Adaline Maria (Gilbert) Hooper, widow of Joseph Hooper and daughter of Cyrus and Sybil (Bundy) Gilbert.  Adaline was born in Euclid, Ohio on June 29, 1831.  By her first marriage, Adaline had one daughter, Avis Maria Hooper, who was raised by Abel Edgerton and took his surname, although she was never formally adopted.  Abel and Adaline Edgerton had six children together:  Albert Abel, Cyrus, Harriet Alice, Minnie Alice, Ava Adaline, and Cassius Abel.

At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, Abel Edgerton and his wife were recorded in the household of her father, Cyrus Gilbert, in Albion, Calhoun County, Michigan (pg. ; dwelling #556; family #548; enum. August 15, 1860), as follows:

The household of Abel Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of South Haven Village, Van Buren County, Michigan (pp. 25-26; dwelling #202; family #208; enum. June 11, 1870), as follows:

The household of Abel Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of South Haven Village, Van Buren County, Michigan (pg. 588; dwelling #172; family #179; enum. June 14, 1880), as follows:

The household of Abel Edgerton was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of South Haven Village, Van Buren County, Michigan (pg. 329; dwelling #142; family #150; enum. June 7, 1900), as follow:

According to the above census record, Adeline was the mother of three children, two of whom were still living (incorrect).  Abel and Adeline were residing at this time on Phillips Street.  Abel’s occupation was listed as “foreman lumber yard”.

Abel Edgerton died at South Haven, Michigan on February 12, 1907, at 11:00 am.  A copy of his death certificate was filed with the Michigan Department of Health (year 1907, certificate #865).  According to the death certificate, Abel was a “laborer”, and had died of arterio sclerosis, mitral insufficiency and complications from Bright’s Disease; his residence was listed as “No. 729 Philips St.”.  The certificate also stated that Abel was married at the time of his death (having been married at the age of 28), and was the father of seven children, of whom five were currently living.  The informant was “Mrs. Harrison”, of South Haven – presumably Abel’s daughter, Mrs. Harriet Alice (Edgerton) Harrison, wife of Walter Harrison.  Abel was buried on February 14, 1907 at the Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven, Michigan.

The household of Mrs. Adeline Edgerton was recorded in the 1910 Federal Census of South Haven City (Ward 2), Van Buren County, Michigan (pg. 147; dwelling #396; family #404; enum. May 9, 1910), as follows:

According to the above census record, Adeline was the mother of seven children, five of whom were still living.  The family was residing at 729 Phillips Street.

Original Source Documents:

1850 Federal Census – household of Norman Hubbard; Glastonbury, Hartford Co., CT.

1860 Federal Census – household of Cyrus Gilbert; Albion, Calhoun Co., MI.

1870 Federal Census – household of Abel Edgerton; South Haven Village, Van Buren Co., MI.

1880 Federal Census – household of Abel Edgerton; South Haven Village, Van Buren Co., MI.

1900 Federal Census – household of Abel Edgerton; South Haven Village, Van Buren Co., MI.

1910 Federal Census – household of Abel Edgerton; South Haven City (Ward 2), Van Buren Co., MI.

Death Certificate – Abel Edgerton; Michigan State Death Certificates; certificate #865.

Death Certificate – Mrs. Adaline Maria (Gilbert) Edgerton; Michigan State Death Certificates; certificate #---.