Edgerton, Joseph V.

EDGERTON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/28/2021 at 23:58:53

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.964

JOSEPH V. EDGERTON
Joseph V. Edgerton, residing on his farm on section 30, Liberty Township, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, February 29, 1840, his parents being Abijah and Rhoda (Vernon) Edgerton. In both the parental and maternal lines he is descended from English ancestors, who probably came to this country about the time of William Penn. They were Quakers in religious belief. Abijah Edgerton was a native of Belmont County, Ohio, and was there reared but after attaining man's estate accompanied his parents on their removal to Morgan County, Ohio where he cleared the timber from a small farm, being an agriculturist and nurseryman by occupation. He passed away when only about thirty-five years of age, leaving four children: Tilman, who makes his home in California; Joseph V., of this review; Chalkley, who resides in Nebraska; and Lydia, deceased. The mother of our subject was also a native of Belmont County, where she was reared and married and sub­sequently removed to Morgan County. After losing her first husband she wedded Lewis Hiatt, by whom she likewise had four children: Robert V. and Samuel, who make their home in Des Moines; Sarah, the wife of Peter Zell, of Oregon; and Thomas, of Nebraska. Mr. Hiatt was a member of the Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry and died in the service. His wife, the mother of Joseph V. Edgerton, passed away in 1867 from the effects of an accidental injury.
Joseph V. Edgerton was reared in the county of his nativity until fifteen years of age and acquired his education in the common schools. In the year 1855 he accompanied his mother and step-father on their removal to Warren County, the family home being established in Liberty Township. On the 13th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company D, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Thirteenth Army Corps. His service covered the period of three years and one month and he participated in many important engage­ments. He took part in the attack and siege of Vicksburg, in the Red River expedition to Texas and Florida and was present at the running of the blockade at Fort Morgan by Farragut. Though not seriously injured, his health was impaired, and he is now the last resident survivor of the forty-five soldiers who originally enlisted from Liberty Township.
At the close of his army experience Mr. Edgerton returned to Warren County, locating on his present home farm on section 30, Liberty Township, in the spring of 1866. His original purchase comprised eighty acres but he has acquired additional property from time to time until, in association with his son, Charles C., he now owns and operates a tract of two hundred and twenty acres. He is a prosperous and well known agriculturist of the com­munity and well deserves the large measure of success which has been accorded him in the conduct of his farming interests.
In 1871 Mr. Edgerton was united in marriage to Mrs. Stephen Townsend, nee Marina R. Chrissey, who was born at Stockton, New York in 1839, a daughter of Addison and Nancy J. (Mills) Chrissey. Her demise occurred November 12, 1882, at a hospital in Hamilton, Illinois. In 1884 Mr. Edgerton was again married, his second union being with Clara P. White, by whom he has two children, William R. and George W., both of whom were born on the old homestead farm. Charles C. Edgerton, the only son of Joseph V. Edgerton and his first wife, was born November 15, 1872, and reared in Liberty Township. He attended school at Des Moines, there mastering the branches of learning which equip one for life's practical duties. He made his home with his father until 1898, when he bought a farm in Squaw Township, being engaged in its operation for six years. In the spring of 1908, however, he returned to the old home farm, which he is now cultivating in association with his father, being widely recognized as one of the progressive and enterprising young agriculturists of the community. He was joined in wedlock to Mrs. Eva E. Holston, nee McGrath, who was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1870, a daughter of John McGrath, who died in Missouri. By this union there have been born five children, namely: Arthur, Daisy, Mattie, Estella and Julia, all of whom are at home. They are all natives of Liberty Township except Julia, whose birth occurred in Squaw Township. In his political views Charles C. Edgerton is a staunch Republican and served as township clerk in Squaw Township for four years. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America at Liberty Center, being a charter member of the latter order.
Joseph V. Edgerton also gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party and has served as school director and in various other positions of public trust. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Indianola, thus maintaining pleasant associations with his old army comrades. His religious training was that of the Quaker faith. For more than a half century he has now been identified with the agricultural interests of this county and is as highly esteemed for his upright career as a man and citizen as for his success in a business way.