Person:Joseph Edgerton (11)

He was born in Canada and was raised in Michigan. The family is in Lapeer County, Michigan in 1840. In 1858 he joined the Baptist Church and before the January 1860 census, he married Nancy Jenkens and was a farmer. His daughter, Jennie, was born in January 1861. He enlisted in the Civil War in August 1861 and after discharge, he divorced Nancy in 1866 and married Mary Jane Foster in 1866. Also, in 1866 he sold property in Lapeer County His daughter Jennie is with them in 1870. Their daughter, Minnie Mae, was born in 1874. After his wife died, he moved from Almont, Lapeer County, to East Jordan in 1875, per his pension file. In 1891 he bought property in Antrim County and sold it in 1897.

Sept 29, 1909 he made application for admission to the Michigan Soldiers' Home in Grand Rapids MI for disabilities: senile dissolution, paralysis right side, articular rheumatism. He was admitted on Oct. 8 1909 and discharged April 20 1910. He lived 20 years longer.

In 1910 census he lived with his daughter, Minnie's family, and had his own income, and is also listed as an inmate at the Old Soldiers home.

In the 1919 Kalamazoo Michigan Directory, he was a boarder at 207 E. Kalamazoo Ave (daughter Jennie's address).

In 1920 he was living with Asa Beal in Echo Twp., Antrim County.

1930 he was living with his daughter Jennie in Comstock, Kalamazoo County.

His Pension file states he was 5' 11 1/2", dark complexion, black eyes, black hair; also light complexion, brown hair. In his application to the Veteran's Home he has gray hair, gray eyes, dark complexion.

Grandaughter, Izetta, said he lived with them and really liked kids and was good to them. She felt it broke his heart to leave them after his daughter's death. He was a messenger in the Civil War, was shot in the foot and his horse died. He was never able to do alot of hard work because of the foot. (He was wounded in the small of back, right hip and shot through left foot.)

Granddaughter, Dorothy, said he was very flamboyant. Had lots of civil war stories to tell and had a storage chest full of civil war things. He was particular and didn't like the way his daughter, Aunt Jenny, cooked and kept house.

JOS. H. EDGERTON '61 VETERAN, DIES

Comstock Man, Who Served Through Civil War, Expires at 94.

  Joseph H. Edgerton, 94, a veteran of the Civil war, died Saturday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lewis L. Hendrick, in South Comstock.  He had been a resident of Kalamazoo County since 1916, having lived most of the time with Mrs. Hendrick.  His wife died many years ago.
  Enlisting in the Union army at the opening of the civil war, Mr. Edgerton took part in all the major battles on the Eastern coast, from Washington to Richmond, including Gettysburg and Appomattox.  He was a member of Companies I and C, First Michigan Cavalry, under General Custer.  For 18 months he was on Custer's staff as a scout.  During the course of his army service he was wounded several times.  After having served as a soldier four years, six months and seven days in the Civil war, Mr. Edgerton re-enlisted and served with the army in Utah, putting down an uprising among Indians.  He finally was discharged from the army in March, 1866.
  Mr. Edgerton was born in Canada, but came to Michigan with his parents when he was six months old.  They established a home in the Thumb district.  He was a farmer.
  Besides his daughter, Mrs. Hendrick, Mr. Edgerton is survived by 12 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
  Funeral services will be held at 2 Tuesday afternoon, with Elder E. F. Goodenough officiating.  Burial will be at Comstock.
 Source: Kalamazoo Gazette Mon., Aug 4, 1930, pg 1.

EDGERTON, JOSEPH H. -- The funeral services will be held at the Truesdale chapel at two Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. E.J. Goodenough of Comstock officiating. Burial in Comstock.

 Source: Kalamazoo Gazette Mon., Aug 4, 1930, pg 12.

Kalamazoo Gazette Mon., Aug 4, 1930, pg 1.

Kalamazoo Gazette Mon., Aug 4, 1930, pg 12.

Tombstone was placed in spring 2000.

1. ↑ National Archives Civil War pension file 702.087 for Joseph.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Michigan, United States. Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995. (FamilySearch).

   Errors in the death record are the name of his mother (Jenkins) and the name of his wife (Nancy). His first wife, from whom he was divorced, was Nancy Jenkins.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Obituary, in Kalamazoo Gazette..

   Mon., Aug 4, 1930, pg 1

4. ↑ Truesdale Funeral Home records.
5. ↑ In Jul 27 1850 he was 13 (1837); Jul 1860, 23 (1837); July 1866 31 (1835); Sep 1870, 30 (1839-40); Apr 1910, 76 (1933-34). Death record has date as July 15 1836.