William M. Edgerton, M. D.


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 505-506

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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WILLIAM M. EDGERTON, M. D., is a leading physician and surgeon of 
Faulkton, South Dakota, and although a young man he has already met 
with most wonderful success in the practice of his chosen profession. 
He was born in Mantorville, Dodge county, Minnesota, May 27, 1870, and 
is a worthy representative of a prominent and distinguished family, 
being a son of Hon. Alonzo J. Edgerton. The Edgertons were among the 
early Dutch settlers of the Mohawk Valley, New York, and were pioneers 
of Oneida county. The Doctor's great-grandfather aided the colonies in 
their struggle for independence as a soldier of the Revolutionary war, 
and was taken as a prisoner to Montreal, Canada. The grand father, 
Lorenzo Edgerton, was a farmer and contractor in New York state 
throughout life.  

Alonzo J. Edgerton, the Doctor's father, was reared in Rome, New York, 
and there prepared for the legal profession. In 1856 he removed to 
Dodge county, Minnesota, where he engaged in practice until the Civil 
war broke out. In 1862 he raised a company, and the following two years 
were spent on the frontier fighting Indians, but the remainder of his 
service was in the South. He was finally mustered out in 1867 with the 
rank of brigadier-general. He was always a very popular and prominent 
man, and in 1880 was appointed senator from Minnesota by Governor 
Pillsbury. After holding that position for one year he was appointed 
chief justice of Dakota Territory in 1881, and in the spring of the 
following year he and his family took up their residence in Yankton. In 
1886 they removed to Mitchell, where he engaged in the practice of law 
until appointed United States district judge by President Harrison in 
1889, when he located at Sioux Falls. He died in that city, in August, 
1896, honored and respected by all who knew him.  

Dr. Edgerton is the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven 
children. He attended school in Yankton, and later the high school of 
Mitchell, from which he was graduated in 1889. For two years he was a 
student in the State University at Vermillion, South Dakota, and was 
graduated from the South Dakota Agricultural College in 1893, with the 
degree of B. S. In the fall of that year he entered the medical 
department of the State University of Minnesota, where he was graduated 
in the spring of 1896, with the degree of M. D. For one year he was 
engaged in practice at Claremont, Minnesota, but in March, 1898, opened 
an office in Faulkton, and has already established himself in a large 
and paying practice, which is constantly increasing. He is a very 
progressive physician, and his skill and ability are widely recognized. 
In December, 1896, Dr. Edgerton led to the marriage altar Miss Alta 
Andrews, who was born in Wisconsin and educated at Vermillion, South 
Dakota. Her father, A. A. Andrews, is a prominent farmer in the 
northeastern part of Faulk county. The Doctor and his wife have a 
little son, Carl Alonzo, born November 29, 1898.  

The Doctor is one of the most popular and influential citizens of 
Faulkton, and is now serving as county coroner and county physician. 
Politically, he is identified with the Republican party, and socially, 
affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the 
Modern Woodmen of America. His wife is an active and prominent member 
of the Congregational Church of Faulkton, and both occupy an enviable 
position in the best social circles of the community.