James C. Edson was born on February 25,1825 at Edson's Corner (sometimes written as Edsons Corner) near the modern-day city of Milford,New York.[1] He was the son of Jacob Edson and Sophronia Bowen and was the eldest of five children.[2] Growing up Edson received a common school education,he had grown up as a farmer and was trained as an apprentice carpenter and millwright.[2] At the age of 20 in 1845 Edson moved to Plainville,Wisconsin (now Dell Prairie) where he owned land and was a farmer.[1][2] Edson was determined to become a lawyer and eventually moved to Newport,Wisconsin and worked for the law firm of Jonathan Bowman near Kilbourn City,Wisconsin (now the Wisconsin Dells).[2] Edson was admitted to bar in Wisconsin in 1855 and was allowed to practice law in Adams County.[2][3] Edson later returned to New York and studied law at the State and National Law School in Poughkeepsie,New York for two years.[2]
Following his study in Poughkeepsie,Edson moved to the new state of Minnesota in 1860,originally settling in Garden City,Minnesota before moving to Glencoe,Minnesota in McLeod County in August,1860.[2] While in Glencoe Edson began a small law practice.
During the Second Battle of Corinth Edson was appointed as the acting rank of Major of the regiment despite being officially only a Captain.[7] Edson re-enlisted into the 4th Minnesota on August 6,1863 due to his original 3-year enlistment being expired. Edson was formally promoted to the rank of Major on February 11,1864.[8] On September 1,1864,Edson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel shortly before the Battle of Allatoona.[8] Edson was eventually mustered out of service with the rest of the regiment on July 19,1865 in Saint Paul,Minnesota.[6] For his gallantry and continued service through the war Edson received the Brevet rank of Colonel.
Law,business,and political career
Following the war Edson continued his law practice in Glencoe and was eventually elected to the office of County Judge for McLeod County.[2] In 1877 Edson ran for political office as a Republican for the 36th District of the Minnesota Legislature representing McLeod County and Sibley County.[9] Edson won the election on November 6,1878 and would serve in the 20th Minnesota Legislature during the 1878 regular session. During the 20th Legislature Edson served on the Deaf and Dumb,and Blind Institute committee,the military affairs committee,and the Minnesota State Prison committee.[9]
In 1881 Edson constructed Glencoe's "American Hotel",also called the "American House",[10] using lumber sourced from Red Wing,Minnesota.[11][12] Edson added additions to the hotel in 1885 and supervised its operation until his death in 1891. The hotel was later converted into a hatchery and named "Walker Acres",the building was eventually razed in 1988.[11][12]
Edson was married twice,his first wife was Sarah Ann Richards of Binghamton,New York. His second wife was Susan McFeeley. In total Edson had 4 children;two boys and two girls. Edson's grandson via his eldest son James Richards Edson (1862–1935) was Vice AdmiralStephen Reuben Edson (1895–1969) who served in World War I and World War II.[17] Edson's daughter Ella Mariah Edson (1866–1942) married Captain Julius Jules Durage (1839–1911),a Dagestani soldier who served with the 11th Infantry Regiment in the Indian Wars.[18]
Edson died on January 27,1891 at the age of 65 of Bright's disease,a historical classification for kidney disease.[1] He is buried at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Glencoe alongside his first wife Sarah.[1]
12Hubbard, Lucius F.; Holmes, Frank R.; Holcombe, R. I.; Upham, Warren; Baker, James H.; Murray, William Pitt (1908). Minnesota in three centuries, 1655-1908. New York: The Publishing society of Minnesota. p.87.
↑Shutter, Marion D.; McLaine, J. S., eds. (1897). Progressive Men of Minnesota. The Minneapolis Journal. pp.308–309. Retrieved 2023-02-02– via Internet Archive.
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Brevet Colonel 