Alonzo J. Edgerton

Alonzo Jay Edgerton (June 7, 1827 – August 9, 1896) was a United States Senator from Minnesota and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.

Alonzo J. Edgerton
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
In office November 19, 1889 – August 9, 1896
Appointed by	Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	Seat established by 25 Stat. 676
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 1858-1859
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
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
Resting place	Evergreen Cemetery Mantorville, Minnesota
Political party	Republican
Education	Wesleyan University read law
Military service
Allegiance	United States Union
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1862–1867
Rank	Colonel Brevet Brigadier General
Unit	10th Minnesota Infantry Regiment 67th United States Colored Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Education and career

Born June 7, 1827, in Rome, Oneida County, New York,[1] Edgerton graduated from Wesleyan University in 1850 and read law in 1855.[1] At Wesleyan, he became a member of the Mystical Seven. He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Mantorville, Minnesota, from 1855 to 1861.[1] He was prosecutor for Dodge County, Minnesota.[1] He was a member of the Minnesota Senate from 1858 to 1859.[2] In 1862, during the American Civil War, Edgerton organized a company of militia which later constituted Company B of the Tenth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers.[3] By January 1864, he had risen to the rank of Colonel of the 67th Regiment Infantry United States Colored Troops.[3] He was brevetted a Brigadier General on March 13, 1865, and confirmed on April 10, 1866.[3] He resumed private practice in Mantorville from 1867 to 1871.[1] He was Railroad Commissioner for Minnesota from 1871 to 1874.[1] Edgerton became a regent of the University of Minnesota in 1872.[3] He again resumed private practice in Mantorville from 1874 to 1877.[1] He served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and returned to private practice in Mantorville from 1878 to 1881.[1]

Congressional service

Edgerton was appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Senator William Windom and served from March 12, 1881, to October 30, 1881, during the 47th United States Congress, when a successor was elected.[4]

Later career

Following his departure from Congress, Edgerton served as a Judge of the District Court for the District of Dakota Territory from 1881 to 1885.[1] He returned to private practice in Mitchell, Dakota Territory (State of South Dakota from November 2, 1889) from 1885 to 1889.[1] He served as President of the constitutional convention of South Dakota.[5]

Federal judicial service

Edgerton received a recess appointment from President Benjamin Harrison on November 19, 1889, to the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, to a new seat authorized by 25 Stat. 676.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Harrison on December 16, 1889.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 16, 1890, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on August 9, 1896, due to his death in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.[1] He was interred in Evergreen Cemetery in Mantorville.[4]

Membership

Edgerton was a freemason.[5]

Honor

The town of Edgerton, Minnesota, is named in Edgerton's honor.[3][6]

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Union)
• List of American Civil War brevet Generals (Union)

References

1. Alonzo Jay Edgerton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. "Edgerton, Alonzo Jay "A.J."". Minnesota Legislature.
3. "Early Settler Biographies". Town of Edgerton.
4. United States Congress. "Alonzo J. Edgerton (id: E000046)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
5. 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
6. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 417.

Sources

• Alonzo Jay Edgerton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

• United States Congress. "Alonzo J. Edgerton (id: E000046)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. 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 Seat established by 25 Stat. 676	Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota 1889–1896	Succeeded by John Emmett Carland