Alonzo J. Edgerton

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder 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.

Education and career

Born June 7, 1827, in Rome, New York,<ref name="auto">Template:FJC Bio</ref> Edgerton graduated from Wesleyan University in 1850 and read law in 1855.<ref name="auto"/> At Wesleyan, he became a member of the Mystical Seven.Template:Citation needed He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Mantorville, Minnesota, from 1855 to 1861.<ref name="auto"/> He was prosecutor for Dodge County, Minnesota.<ref name="auto"/> He was a member of the Minnesota Senate from 1858 to 1859.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1862, during the American Civil War, Edgerton organized a company of militia which later constituted Company B of the Tenth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers.<ref name="Early Settlers of Edgerton webpage">Template:Cite web</ref> By January 1864, he had risen to the rank of Colonel of the 67th Regiment Infantry United States Colored Troops.<ref name="Early Settlers of Edgerton webpage"/> He was brevetted a brigadier general on March 13, 1865, and confirmed on April 10, 1866.<ref name="Early Settlers of Edgerton webpage"/> He resumed private practice in Mantorville from 1867 to 1871.<ref name="auto"/> He was Railroad Commissioner for Minnesota from 1871 to 1874.<ref name="auto"/> Edgerton became a regent of the University of Minnesota in 1872.<ref name="Early Settlers of Edgerton webpage"/> He again resumed private practice in Mantorville from 1874 to 1877.<ref name="auto"/> He served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and returned to private practice in Mantorville from 1878 to 1881.<ref name="auto"/>

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.<ref name="auto1">Template:CongBio</ref>

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.<ref name="auto"/> He returned to private practice in Mitchell, Dakota Territory (State of South Dakota from November 2, 1889) from 1885 to 1889.<ref name="auto"/> He served as President of the constitutional convention of South Dakota.<ref name="plains">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</ref>

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.<ref name="auto"/> He was nominated to the same position by President Harrison on December 16, 1889.<ref name="auto"/> He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 16, 1890, and received his commission the same day.<ref name="auto"/> His service terminated on August 9, 1896, due to his death in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.<ref name="auto"/> He was interred in Evergreen Cemetery in Mantorville.<ref name="auto1"/>

Membership

Edgerton was a Freemason.<ref name="plains"/>

Honor

The town of Edgerton, Minnesota, is named in Edgerton's honor.<ref name="Early Settlers of Edgerton webpage"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

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

Sources

• Template:FJC Bio