Background
Sidney Edgerton was born on August 17, 1818, in Cazenovia, New York, of old New England ancestry. His parents were Amos Edgerton and Zerviah Graham. His father died while Sidney was an infant, and the boy had to educate himself.
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judge lawyer politician teacher
Sidney Edgerton was born on August 17, 1818, in Cazenovia, New York, of old New England ancestry. His parents were Amos Edgerton and Zerviah Graham. His father died while Sidney was an infant, and the boy had to educate himself.
Edgerton studied and taught and in 1844 went to Akron, Ohio, where he again taught school and studied law. In 1846 he graduated from the Cincinnati Law School.
Beginning his public life as an Abolitionist, Edgerton was a delegate to the Free-Soil Convention of 1848, and continued his fight on slavery during the years following. In 1856 he was delegate to the first Republican National Convention.
Elected to Congress in 1858, he served two terms. His efforts were directed toward the abolition of slavery in the territories, in the District of Columbia, and on the public property of the United States. As a Union man he felt the need of holding the West to the East. He was an ardent advocate of a transcontinental railroad and voted for every measure which he thought would promote its construction.
When the territory of Idaho was organized, March 3, 1863, President Lincoln offered the position of chief justice to Edgerton. He took office at Bannack in eastern Idaho (now in Montana) and there remained in charge of the eastern judicial district of the territory. This assignment was distasteful to him for he felt that as chief justice he should have a district nearer the capi- tal. The court had no marshal and no power to enforce its decisions. With bands of road agents infesting the country, Edgerton gave his approval of the vigilantes who were trying to exterminate them. The counties east of the Bitter Root Mountains, dissatisfied with their connection with Idaho, sent Edgerton to Washington to work for a separate territory. He was well acquainted with James M. Ashley, chairman of the House committee on territories, with other congressmen, and with Lincoln.
Following the approval of the act forming Montana (May 26, 1864), Lincoln appointed Edgerton governor, legal provision for a temporary government being made May 27. His territory had been overrun by bandits and the majority of its population were opposed to the Union. It was his work to organize government among a hostile people and establish obedience to law. With firmness and tact he undertook the task and during the year of his administration made progress. He foresaw in Montana a great commonwealth and he urged the building of roads and the founding of schools. He was unable to conclude his program, since the succession of Johnson to the presidency led to his resignation.
After 1865 Edgerton devoted himself to the practise of law, but he did not lose interest in public affairs. When Mark Hanna invited him as a member of the first Republican Convention to sit in the one of 1900, Edgerton declined, stating that there was little in common between the principles held by him and the "fore ordained work" of the latter convention. Sidney Edgerton died on July 19, 1900, in Akron, Ohio.
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Sidney Edgerton was an agnostic among a people thoroughly devoted to Christianity.
Sidney Edgerton was a delegate to the convention that formed the Free Soil Party, in 1848. He then served as prosecuting attorney of Summit County, Ohio, from 1852 to 1856.
Later in 1856, Edgerton was a delegate to the first Republican National Convention. That same year, he was nominated for probate judge, but he declined the nomination. Edgerton was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1858.
Sidney Edgerton was an Abolitionist when abolition was unpopular.
Sidney Edgerton was a man of unusual intellect, pleasing personality, and notable oratorical ability. He had great courage and frankness.
On May 18, 1848, Sidney Edgerton married Mary Wright, by whom he had eight children.