History of Sioux Falls, (Minnehaha County) South Dakota United States of America

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Alonzo Jay Edgerton, jurist, was born near Rome, N.Y., June 7, 1827. His first ancestor in America settled at Norwich, Conn., about 1642. Two of his ancestors served in the Revolutionary war. He .was graduated from Wesleyan university in 1850 and engaged in teaching for a short time. He was admitted to the bar and removed to Minnesota, where he was a member of the state legislature, 1858-59, and again 1877-78, and a presidential elector in 1876. He recruited Company B, 10th Minnesota infantry, serving as its captain throughout the Indian campaign in Dakota, 1862-63, and in February, 1864, he was commissioned colonel and commanded the 67th U.S. colored infantry in Louisiana. His regiment was consolidated with the 65th colored in 1865, and he was brevetted brigadier-general and commanded the district of Baton Rouge, 1865-67. He was mustered out of the volunteer service in February, 1867. He was railroad commissioner of Minnesota, 1871-74, and in March, 1881, was appointed by Governor Hubbard U.S. senator, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William Windom, who had been made secretary of the treasury in President Garfield's cabinet. In December, 1881, he was appointed chief justice of the territory of Dakota. He was president of the South Dakota constitutional conventions of 1885 and 1889, and when the state was admitted to the union he was appointed U.S. district judge for South Dakota. He was for two years a regent of the University of South Dakota. He received the degree of LL.D. from Wesleyan university in 1891, and also from the University of South Dakota. He was married, Oct. 8, 1850, to Sarah Curtis of New Britain, Conn. He died at Sioux Falls, S.D., Aug. 10, 1896.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Sioux Falls, (Minnehaha County) South Dakota

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