James C. Edson
American judge and politician (1825–1891)
The Honorable
Colonel
James C. Edson
James C. Edson in 1874
Member of the Minnesota Legislature
from the 36th district
In office
January 8, 1878 - January 6, 1879
GovernorJohn S. Pillsbury
Judge of the 8th District Court of Minnesota
GovernorLucius Frederick Hubbard
Andrew Ryan McGill
Preceded byJohn L. MacDonald
Succeeded byFrancis Cadwell
Personal details
Born(1825-02-25)February 25, 1825
Edson's Corner
Milford, New York
DiedJanuary 27, 1891(1891-01-27) (aged 65)
Glencoe, Minnesota
Resting placeHillcrest Cemetery
Glencoe, Minnesota
NationalityAmerican
PartyRepublican
Spouse(s)Sarah Ann Richards
Susan McFeeley
Children4
Alma materState and National Law School
OccupationLawyer
Judge
Hotel Manager
ProfessionLaw
Military service
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Union
Branch/serviceUnited States Union Army
Years of service1861-1865
Rank Brevet Colonel
Unit4th Minnesota Infantry Regiment
CommandsCompany B, 4th Minnesota Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

James C. Edson (February 25, 1825 - January 27, 1891) was a lawyer, judge, military officer, politician, hotelier, and notable settler of Glencoe, Minnesota. During his lifetime Edson served as the County Judge of McLeod County, Minnesota and was the Judge of the 8th District Court of Minnesota under Governor of Minnesota Andrew Ryan McGill.

Early life

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.

Military career

The Fourth Minnesota Entering Vicksburg, c. 1904 by Francis Davis Millet

At the outbreak of the American Civil War Edson helped organize a company of United States Volunteers for the war, this unit would eventually become Company B, nicknamed the "McLeod County Guards" of the 4th Minnesota Infantry Regiment. Edson organized the McLeod County Guards on September 26, 1861 in Glencoe before marching to Fort Snelling to join the rest of the regiment.[4] The majority of Company B were from McLeod County while a minority came from southern Meeker County, Minnesota.[4] Edson was quickly elected as the Captain of Company B and would serve with the unit for the whole of the war.[5] The 4th Minnesota fought exclusively in the Western theater of the American Civil War, most notably in the Shiloh campaign, the Iuka-Corinth campaign, the Vicksburg campaign, the Chattanooga campaign, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the Carolinas campaign.[6]

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 appointed by the Governor of Minnesota Lucius Frederick Hubbard to serve as the Judge of the 8th District Court of Minnesota in 1886. The 8th Judicial District was created by an act of the Minnesota Legislature approved March 5, 1870. Edson's predecessor was John L. MacDonald who had vacated the position due to being elected to the 50th United States Congress.[13] Edson was elected as the Judge of the 8th Judicial District in 1888 and served under Governor Andrew Ryan McGill. Edson died while in office in 1891 before the completion of his term, his successor was Francis Cadwell of Le Sueur County, Minnesota.[3][14]

Aside from politics and law Edson was the county deputy for the McLeod County chapter of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, an American agricultural advocacy group which ensured the livelihood and interests of farmers.[15] Edson was also the President of the Fourth Minnesota Veteran Volunteer Infantry Association, a Veterans' organization similar to the Grand Army of the Republic which held annual reunions in Minneapolis.[16]

Personal life and death

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 Admiral Stephen 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]

References

  1. ^ a b c d St. Paul daily globe. (Saint Paul, MN), Jan. 28 1891. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn90059522/1891-01-28/ed-1/.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Holcombe, Return I. (1917). History of McLeod County, Minnesota. p. 299.
  3. ^ a b Hubbard, 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.
  4. ^ a b Brown, Alonzo Leighton (1892). History of the Fourth regiment of Minnesota infantry volunteers during the great rebellion, 1861-1865. Cornell University Library. St. Paul, Pioneer Press. p. 2.
  5. ^ "Soldier Details - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  6. ^ a b "Battle Unit Details - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  7. ^ Brown, Alonzo Leighton (1892). History of the Fourth regiment of Minnesota infantry volunteers during the great rebellion, 1861-1865. Cornell University Library. St. Paul, Pioneer Press. p. 161.
  8. ^ a b Minnesota. Adjutant General's Office (1862). Annual report. The Library of Congress. Saint Paul. p. 171.
  9. ^ a b "Edson, James C. "J.C." - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  10. ^ "Print, Photographic - American House, Glencoe, MN | McLeod County Historical Society". mcleodhistory.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  11. ^ a b El-Hai, Jack (2000). Lost Minnesota : stories of vanished places. Internet Archive. Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-8166-3514-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  12. ^ a b El-Hai, Jack. Lost Minnesota: Stories of Vanished Places. NED-New edition. University of Minnesota Press, 2000. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctttsjk5.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ The Mankato free press. (Mankato, MN), Jul. 17 1891. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn83016589/1891-07-17/ed-1/.
  15. ^ Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Holcombe, Return I. (1917). History of McLeod County, Minnesota. p. 266.
  16. ^ Brown, Alonzo Leighton (1892). History of the Fourth regiment of Minnesota infantry volunteers during the great rebellion, 1861-1865. Cornell University Library. St. Paul, Pioneer Press. p. 557.
  17. ^ "Edson, Stephen Reuben". www.history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2025-04-01. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  18. ^ New Ulm review. (New Ulm, MN), Jul. 5 1911. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn89081128/1911-07-05/ed-1/.
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