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Alfred Edgerton, son of Horace and Betsey (Taylor) Edgerton.

Jane Hartly Scritchfield, daughter of Hiram H. and Esther Ann (Highfield) Scritchfield.

Children:

1. Flora Valerie, b. September 2, 1855; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
2. Helen T., b. September 23, 1856; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
3. infant daughter, b. February 16, 1858; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
4. Susan A., b. July 17, 1859; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
5. Oscar J., b. August 19, 1862; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
6. Nora Jane, b. May 1863; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
7. George Washington, b. January 18, 1865; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
8. Bertha F., b. June 20, 1867; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
9. Millie Freedom, b. March 23, 1870; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
10. Homer A., b. October 23, 1871; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
11. Martha Alma, b. September 1873; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
12. Mary B., b. March 28, 1875; Creston, Lake Co., IN.
13. Ruth Belle, b. 1877; Creston, Lake Co., IN.

The following biography of Alfred Edgerton is excerpted from Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical Illustrated (Weston A. Goodspeed & Charles Blanchard, eds.; Chicago, Ill.: F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers; 1882; pg. 646-647):

“ALFRED EDGERTON was born in Erie County, Penn., May 23, 1822, and is one of a family of eight children born to Horace and Betsey Edgerton, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of New York.  Horace Edgerton was a carpenter, which calling he followed almost constantly until his death; he was soldier of the war of 1812.  When young, he went to New York, where he married, and thence removed to Erie County, Penn.  In 1834, he moved to La Porte, La Porte County, Ind., and thence to Cedar Lake, where he pre-empted 160 acres, which he farmed, and also worked his trade.  In 1843, he purchased and improved eighty acres in Cedar Creek Township; he died in Cook County, Ill.  Mrs. Edgerton died at La Porte in 1836.  Alfred Edgerton attended the frontier subscription schools, and afterward worked for his father until he was twenty-one years old.  In 1848, he bought eighty acres of State land in Cedar Creek Township, built a cabin and improved the same, and here he has since resided.  In 1852, he went overland route to California, and engaged in mining until 1853, when he returned via Panama.  On May 9, 1854, he was married to Jane H. Scritchfield of Kentucky, daughter of Hiram H. and Esther A. (Highfield) Scritchfield, both natives of Kentucky.  To this union have been born thirteen children, ten of whom survive – Flora F. (now Mrs. L. G. Cutler), Susan A. (now Mrs. C. A. Taylor), Oscar P., Norah J., George W., Bertha F., Millie F., Homer A., Alma M. and Ruth B.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Edgerton are members of the M. E. Church.  Mrs Edgerton is, in politics, a Greenbacker, and also an old settler and a prominent farmer.”

The household of Alfred Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana (pg. 910; dwelling #341; family #347; enum. June 30, 1860), as follows:

The household of Alfred Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana (dwelling #167; family #155; enum. July 20, 1870), as follows:

The household of Alfred Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana (pg. 623; dwelling #191; family #191; enum. June 21, 1880), as follows:

The following obituary notice for Alfred Edgerton was published in the Westmoreland Recorder on Thursday, October 18, 1888 (pg. 8):

“Alfred Edgerton, a resident of Lake Co., Ind. died of consumption at the home of O. S. Scritchfield near this city on Monday last at 7:00 p.m. and buried in Jenkins grave yard on the day following, Rev. W. W. Kendall officiating.

Mr. Edgerton was a native of New York, a consistent member of the M. E. Church for many years and at the time of his death was 64 years of age.  He leaves a wife and 9 children to mourn his death.  About a month since he came to this place to visit relatives and friends never again to return to his home.  Consumption was the dread disease of which he died.”

Alfred Edgerton was buried at the Admantha/Jenkins Cemetery in Pottawatomie, Kansas.  His gravestone was inscribed with the following epitaph

The household of Mrs. Jane Edgerton was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana (pg. 179; dwelling #83; family #83; enum. June 8, 1900), as follows:

According to the above census record, Jane was the mother of thirteen children, nine of whom were still living.  Jane and Homer were both listed as “farmers”.

The following obituary for Mrs. Jane Hartly (Scritchfield) Edgerton is extracted from the scrapbook of Richard Schmal, Lowell, Indiana Town Historian:

“Jane H. Scritchfield was born in Kentucky, May 10, 1838, and died at her home at Creston, April 12 [sic], 1908, aged 69 years, 11 months and 2 days.  The family resided in Kentucky until 1839, then they moved to Decatur County, Ind., and in 1852 to Lake County, Ind., where she has since lived.  On May 9, 1854 she was married to Alfred Edgerton.  To this union thirteen children were born, four having preceded her to the Spirit World.  The husband, Alfred Edgerton, died October 15, 1888.  She was baptized July 15, 1843, and has lived a Christian life since.  She was one of a family of fourteen children and was the fourth one to go.  Her funeral, which was very largely attended, occurred at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday from the Creston M.E. church, Rev. T.F. Drake, pastor of the M.E. church here, preached the funeral discourse.  The Lowell M.E. church choir furnished the music.  The following acted as pall bearers: Theo. Cutler, Andrew Cutler, Leslie Cutler, Robert Scritchfield, Earl Taylor and Owen Taylor.  Interment in the Creston cemetery; Funeral Director John Castle in charge.  She leaves nine children – Flora V., Susan A., Oscar J., Homer A., living here; Nora Jane, Parkman, Okla.; George W., Topeka, Kan.; Millie F., Iowa, La.; Martha Alma, Wabash, Ind.; Ruth B. , Muskegon, Mich.”

Original Source Documents:

1860 Federal Census – household of Alfred Edgerton; Cedar CreekTwp., Lake Co., IN.

1870 Federal Census – household of Alfred Edgerton; Cedar CreekTwp., Lake Co., IN.

1880 Federal Census – household of Alfred Edgerton; Cedar CreekTwp., Lake Co., IN.

1900 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Jane Hartly (Scritchfield) Edgerton; Cedar CreekTwp., Lake Co., IN.

Gravestone photo – Alfred Edgerton; Admantha/Jenkins Cemetery; Pottawatomie, Pottawatomie Co., KS.

Gravestone photo – Mrs. Jane Hartly (Scritchfield) Edgerton; Creston Cemetery; Creston, Lake Co., IN.