Henry and Mary EDGINGTON

EDGINGTON, HITHCOCK, TAYLOR, RENFRO

Posted By: kkb (email)
Date: 12/18/2002 at 23:08:15

History of Monona County, page 168

Henry EDGINGTON, son of John and Nancy EDGINGTON, was born March 15, 854, at Crawford County, Illinois. At the age of nineteen he moved to Ashton, Illinois.

At Ashton, he met Mary Idell HITCHCOCK, daughter of Nathan W. and Sarah TAYLOR HITCHCOCK, and they were married June 11, 1879, at Ashton. The following spring in 1880, the EDGINGTONS moved to Monona County, Iowa, and took a homestead in Cooper Township. The first hear, while this was being broken, a farm was rented ( now occupied by Frank EDGINGTON ) and the next spring they move to the Cooper Township farm south and east of Mapleton. This farm is now occupied by Waldo RICKERT. The four EDGINGTON children, Harlan, Ray, John and Mabel were born on this farm and all attended the Rush Creek School.

The family remained on this farm for thirteen years, moving from there to the "homeplace". This farm is now occupied by the Donald BUBKE Family. Henry and Mary Idell remained on this farm until 1913, when they purchased the home at the corner of 7th and Ring Street in Mapleton. This is were the Methodist Church now stands. At this time, son John, and his wife moved on to the "homeplace" and remained until 1920. John and Frances then moved to the farm now known as "EDGINGTON'S Corner". This farm has been the home of another son, Ray, and his wife, Deberatha, and daughters, Carol and Viola, until Ray's death in December 1918 in the flu epidemic. The oldest son, Harlan, and his wife, Clara, also lived in the vicinity, on a farm east of "EDGINGTON'S Corner." They Moved onto this farm in 1904 and remained there until they retired to Mapleton in 1947.

Henry owned and operated a considerable amount of land and was a feeder of livestock. In one shipment bound for the Chicago Stockyard, all the cars in one freight train contained nothing but EDGINGTON cattle. In later years he was interested in banking and became a president of The State Savings Bank at Ute, Iowa.

He served as county supervisor for nine years. At the end of these nine years, he was elected State Representative on Monona County. He served in the 37th, 38th and 39th State legislatures under Governor HARDING and Governor KENDALL.

Mrs. EDGINGTON suffered from rheumatism for many years and went to many different spas and mineral baths for relief, but to no avail. Later she developed heart trouble and for the last three years of her live she was an invalid. She died in May, 1919 at the age of 61 years.

IN 1920, Henry and daughter, Mabel and her husband, Del RENFRO, moved back to the "homeplace" into a new home that replaced the one destroyed by fire the previous year.

They lived there until 1941 when they moved to their home at 607 6th Street in Mapleton. Henry EDGINGTON died here June, 1943, at the age of 89 years.
submitted by Mrs. Frank EDGINGTON