My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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R. A. Edgerton, postmaster at Little Rock, and a resident of that city since the year 1865, was born in Pawlet, Rutland County, Vt., on October 27, 1840, and is the son of Marson Edgerton, also a native of the same State, as was his father, Reed Edgerton, born in 1790, his father being Jacob Edgerton, born in Norwich, Conn., in 1761, who was a son of Simeon Edgerton, a captain in the Continental army during the Revolution, who fought at the battle of New London, his birth occurring in 1732; he a son of Joseph Edgerton, also a native of Norwich, Conn., and in fact the genealogy of this family can be traced back to Puritanical days. Marson Edgerton removed from his native State and went to New York City, where he embarked in the tea business. His death occurred in 1876, at the age of sixty years, and he, like all the other male members of the Edgerton family, from Simeon down, who have died, are buried in the little cemetery at Pawlet, Vt. Marson Edgerton was married to Miss Betsy Melissa Brown, by whom he had one son, Rollin A. (the principal in this sketch). His first wife died on July 8, 1847. He subsequently married Miss Lucy Gregory, by whom he had two children: Edward and Charles, the latter still living. This wife died in 1861. Rollin A. Edgerton was reared in his native town, and educated at the public schools at that place, and also at the St. Lawrence Academy at Potsdam, N. Y. After finishing his course of study, at the age of seventeen years, he went to Fremont, Ohio, where he obtained employment as clerk in a hardware store. He remained with the same firm until the Civil War commenced, and then, in response to President Lincoln’s call for 75,000 men for three months’ service, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Eighth Ohio Volunteers, and when mustered out held the rank of sergeant. He immediately afterward was mustered in the three years’ service as sergeant in the Seventy-second Ohio, and then promoted to a second lieutenancy, and afterward first lieutenant, taking part in the battles at Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, with Grant at Grand Gulf, the first battle at Jackson, Siege of Vicksburg, second battle at Jackson, besides a number of others. He was granted the first permit to discharge army officers to trade at Little Rock, and located here in business shortly after the war had ended, remaining in mercantile life until the year 1870, when he was commissioned receiver of public moneys for the Little Rock district by President Grant. He creditably filled this office for four years, and was appointed postmaster by President Arthur, on December 31, 1881, serving four years in that office to the satisfaction of the people. Mr. Edgerton was elected secretary of the Little Rock Cooperage Company in 1879, and was connected with the Exchange Bank of that city, serving as its vice-president. He was also president of the Baring-Cross Bridge Company, until its purchase by Jay Gould, and was one of the directors of the Iron Mountain Railroad during the same period. On January 1, 1866, Mr. Edgerton was married to Miss Emma A. Downs, a daughter of James Downs, of Fremont, Ohio. Two sons were born to this marriage, Charles R. and Morgan B. Mrs. Edgerton and her youngest son attend the First Presbyterian Church. Col. Edgerton is a member of the G. A. R., and also the Loyal Legion. He was reappointed by President Harrison to his former position of postmaster at Little Rock, in August, 1879, and took charge of the office on September 1, succeeding Col. Thomas W. Newton.

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This family biography is one of 156 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Pulaski County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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