Alonzo J. Edgerton

Alonzo J. Edgerton
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
In office
January 16, 1890  August 9, 1896
Appointed by Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by new seat
Succeeded by John Emmett Carland
United States Senator
from Minnesota
In office
March 12, 1881 November 14, 1881
Preceded by William Windom
Succeeded by William Windom
Member of the Minnesota Senate
In office
1859
1876
Personal details
Born Alonzo Jay Edgerton
(1827-06-07)June 7, 1827
Rome, New York
Died August 9, 1896(1896-08-09) (aged 69)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Political party Republican
Alma mater Wesleyan University
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Union
Service/branch United States Army
Union Army
Years of service 1862-1867
Rank Colonel
Brevet Brigadier General
Unit 10th Minnesota Infantry Regiment
67th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars American Civil War

Alonzo Jay Edgerton (June 7, 1827 – August 9, 1896) was an American politician, a United States federal judge and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Biography

Alonzo Edgerton was born in Rome, New York. Edgerton graduated from Wesleyan University in 1850, and there became a member of the Mystical Seven. He read law in 1855. After residing in Mississippi and Illinois for periods of time, Edgerton settled in Mantorville in 1855 and was admitted to the bar.[1] In 1859 he was elected to the Minnesota State Senate.[2] In 1862 Edgerton organized a company of militia which later constituted Company B of the Tenth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers. By January 1864 he had risen to the rank of Colonel of the 67th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops. He was brevetted a Brigadier General on March 13, 1865 and confirmed on April 10, 1866.[1]

Returning to Minnesota, he was in private practice of law in Mantorville, Minnesota from 1867 to 1871. Edgerton became a regent of the University of Minnesota and was in 1872 was appointed as the first state railroad commissioner. After his term ended in 1876 Edgerton returned to the state senate. He was appointed U.S. Senator from Minnesota as a Republican, and served from March 12, 1881 to November 14, 1881 in the 47th congress. Edgerton was a replacement for Senator William Windom, who became Secretary of the Treasury under President James A. Garfield; Windom left the cabinet after Garfield's brief presidency and then was re-elected to serve out the remainder of his own term. Edgerton was later appointed chief justice of the Territorial Supreme Court of Dakota.

When South Dakota was admitted as a State into the Union, he was made United States judge of that district. He also served as president of the constitutional convention of South Dakota.[3] He was a freemason.[3] He died in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Legacy

The town of Edgerton, Minnesota is named in his honor.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Early Settlers of Edgerton webpage
  2. Alonzo Jay Edgerton, Minnesota Legislators Past and Present
  3. 1 2 Jon K. Lauck, 'The Foundations of Political Culture in East River South Dakota', in The Plains Political Tradition: Essays on South Dakota Political Culture (eds. Jon K. Lauck, John E. Miller, Donald C. Simmons, Jr.), Pierre, South Dakota: South Dakota State Historical Society Press, 2011, p. 28
  4. Early Settlers of Edgerton, Minnesota
  5. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 417.

External links

United States Senate
Preceded by
William Windom
U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Minnesota
1881
Served alongside: Samuel J. R. McMillan
Succeeded by
William Windom
Legal offices
Preceded by
new seat
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
1890–1896
Succeeded by
John Emmett Carland
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