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Edgerton

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John M. Edgerton, son of Daniel and Jemima (Foster) Edgerton.

Sophia E. Cronk, daughter of Arvin and Polly (Crego) Cronk.

Children:

1. Byron L., b. July 24, 1860; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.
2. Ray A., b. October 11, 1862; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.
3. Earl Foster, b. October 10, 1864; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.
4. Ray A., b. October 30, 1865; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.
5. Myra Isabelle, b. March 29, 1868; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.
6. Ruby Winona, b. November 18, 1871; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.
7. Leona Effie, b. November 15, 1874; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.
8. Gideon Vary, b. March 4, 1877; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.

Frederick Clifton Pierce’s Foster Genealogy (W.B. Conkey Co., Chicago, IL, 1899; pg. 579), provides the following biography of John M. Edgerton:

“John M. Edgerton, born in Boonville, Oneida county, N. Y., July 14, 1836 [sic].  At the time above mentioned, the town of Ava (then Boonville) was comparatively a new country.  At the age of six years John M. commenced to attend the district school of the town; in the fall and spring was employed on his father's farm.  In summer, while attending school, it was John M.’s business to hurry home and drive up the cows, and then drive them away to the pasture after milking.  On the farm his father usually kept from thirty to forty cows.  He attended the district school until he was about seventeen years old, when he commenced to attend the Dilla high school, where he attended several terms.  The next course was the Rome academy, several terms, and finished up at Charlotteville with a thorough academic training.  At the age of twenty-one he received an appointment in the engineer department of New York State; remained there two years; soon after bought a farm and married Miss Sophia Cronk, of Western N. Y.; continued farming in connection with the lumber trade in northern New York for several years; soon after purchased the store and hotel at Ava formerly owned by Morse & Tiffany; carried on business for two years; sold out and occupied the farm.  He also owned a machine shop and saw-mill, which he carried on at the same time.  Being a Republican and living in a Democratic town, he took an interest in politics; was elected supervisor of the town five terms; in 1885, accepted the position of law clerk in the county clerk’s office of the county; served in such capacity three years. He also assisted in indexing all the books in said office, which cost two years’ hard labor; next came the books in the surrogate’s office which lasted one year more.  Since that time he has retired from business.  He is now sixty-two years old and is willing to rest for a few years.”

The household of John Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Ava, Oneida County, New York (pg. 837; dwelling #1501; family #1504; enum. August 2, 1860), as follows:

The household of John M. Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Ava, Oneida County, New York (pg. 70; dwelling #107; family #110; enum. August 9, 1870), as follows:

The household of John M. Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Ava, Oneida County, New York (pg. 59; dwelling #80; family #85; enum. June 8, 1880), as follows:

The following obituary for John M. Edgerton was published in The Utica Observer on Monday, February 20, 1899:

“John M. Edgerton, once an important factor in county politics, died at 11:15 am yesterday at his home, 193 West St after an illness of two weeks.  Mr. Edgerton was taken with an attack of the grip.

He was born in Martinsburg, Lewis County 70 years ago, and when he was five years of age his parents removed to the town of Ava where he resided until taking up his residence in Utica fourteen years ago.  Mr. Edgerton received his education in the schools at Ava, Delta and at Rome Academy. He worked on his father's farm and afterward learned the cooper trade from his brother.  Concluding his apprenticeship, Mr. Edgerton opened a shop which he conducted with success for seven or eight years.  He was then for two years employed in the office of Thomas Bates, canal engineer at Rome.  Returning to Ava he bought a farm, but disposing of it he purchased another in the town of Florence.  After a year there he sold out and again returned to Ava.  Mr. Edgerton next established a water power saw mill, which he sold out after running two years and purchased the hotel at Ava Corners.  After two years in the hotel business Mr. Edgerton resumed farming, continuing in that until he came to Utica to accept a position in the county clerks office under the administration of M. Jesse Brayton.  Mr. Edgerton had been a candidate in the convention for county clerk. At the conclusion of Mr. Brayton's term, Mr. Edgerton was for a time employed in indexing the records in the county clerk's office.  He was a member of the Board of Supervisors from Ava in the years of 1870, 1871, 1880, 1881 and 1882.  Mr. Edgerton had always been active in the Republican affairs in the county, having been delegate to many conventions.  After finishing the indexing in the surrogates office, Mr. Edgerton retained his residence in this city though he was frequesntly in Ava.  He was an amiable man and in Oneida County, where he was as well known, he had many friends.  He attended the Methodist Church and was a member of Baron Steuben Lodge, No. 174, F & A M.

Mr. Edgerton was a son of Daniel & Jemima Foster Edgerton, his mother being a daughter of Nathaniel Foster, celebrated as a hunter. Oct. 3, 1860, Mr. Edgerton married Miss Sophia Cronk of Western, who survives with five children, Byron L. of Utica, Ray A. of New York, and Myra, Winona and Effie Edgerton of Utica.  He also leaves two brothers, Daniel and Nathaniel of Phelps, NY and three sisters, Mrs. Emaline Dickinson of Volga, SD, Mrs. Mary Palmer and Miss Eliza Edgerton of Rome.

Funeral will be held from his late residence in West street Tuesday and in Ava where the interment will be made.”

A brief death notice was also published in the Utica Morning Herald on the same day (Monday, February 20, 1899), reporting John’s age as, “69 years 7 months and 5 days”; and a subsequent funeral notice was published in the Utica Morning Herald on Wednesday, February 22, 1899.  John M. Edgerton was buried at the Ava Corners Cemetery.  The gravestone which he shares there with his wife, Sophia, was inscribed with the years of their birth and death – that is, “1829 – 1899” and “1836 – 1921”, respectively.

The household of Mrs. Sophia “Egerton” was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Utica Township (Utica City, Ward 15), Oneida County, New York (pg. 47; dwelling #152; family #196; enum. June 6, 1900), as follows:

According to the above census record, Sophia was the mother of eight children, five of whom were still living.  Effie and Winona were both listed as “dressmakers”, and Stewart was noted as “at school”.  The family was residing at 102 West Street.

The following obituary for Mrs Sophia (Cronk) Edgerton was published in The Utica Morning Telegraph on Wednesday, May 4, 1921:

“Mrs. Sophia E. Edgerton, 84, widow of John E. Edgerton, died last evening at the home of her son, Rae A. Edgerton, 213 Rutger Street.  She had been ill for the past month and her death was due to a paralytic stroke.  She was a very active woman until three years ago when she suffered an injury to the knee which considerably disabled her.

She was born in the town of Western in 1837 and received her schooling in that town and in Jefferson County.  She was married to the late John E. Edgerton in Ava and came to this city 19 years ago.  She attended the Immanuel Baptist Church and was a member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union as well as the Reynolds Relief Corps.

She leaves five children, Byron Edgerton of Chadwicks, Rae A., Myra and Wynona of this city, and Mrs. Effie Williams of Boston, and several nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.”

A similar obituary was published in the Utica Herald-Dispatch on Wednesday, May 4, 1921; and a funeral notice was published in the Utica Morning Telegram on Saturday, May 7, 1921.

Original Source Documents:

1860 Federal Census – household of John M. Edgerton; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.

1870 Federal Census – household of John M. Edgerton; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.

1880 Federal Census – household of John M. Edgerton; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.

1900 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Sophia (Cronk) Edgerton; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.

Obituary – John M. Edgerton; The Utica Observer – Monday, February 20, 1899.

Death notice – John M. Edgerton; Utica Morning Herald  – Monday, February 20, 1899.

Funeral notice – John M. Edgerton; Utica Morning Herald – Wednesday, February 22, 1899.

Obituary – Mrs Sophia E. (Cronk) Edgerton; The Utica Morning Telegraph – Wednesday, May 4, 1921.

Obituary – Mrs. Sophia E. (Cronk) Edgerton; Utica Herald-Dispatch – Wednesday, May 4, 1921.

Funeral notice – Mrs. Sophia E. (Cronk) Edgerton; Utica Morning Telegram – Saturday, May 7, 1921.

Gravestone photo – John M. Edgerton & Mrs. Sophia E. (Cronk) Edgerton; Ava Corners Cemetery; Ava, Oneida Co., NY.