Sidney Edgerton

Sidney Edgerton
1st Territorial Governor of Montana
In office June 22, 1864 – July 12, 1866[a]
Appointed by	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	office established
Succeeded by	Thomas F. Meagher Acting Territorial Governor
Chief Justice of the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court
In office March 10, 1863 – June 22, 1864
Appointed by	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	office established
Succeeded by	Silas Woodson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 18th District
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	Benjamin F. Leiter
Succeeded by	Rufus P. Spalding
Personal details
Born	(1818-08-17)August 17, 1818 Cazenovia, New York, US
Died	July 19, 1900(1900-07-19) (aged 81) Akron, Ohio, US
Resting place	Tallmadge Cemetery, Tallmadge, Ohio
Political party	Free Soil (1848–1856) Republican (1856–1900)
Spouse	Mary Wright Edgerton
Children	Martha Edgerton Rolfe Plassmann
Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Judge, Teacher
Signature

Sidney Edgerton (August 17, 1818 – July 19, 1900) was an American politician, lawyer, judge and teacher from Ohio. He served during the American Civil War, as a Squirrel Hunter. During this time, Edgerton served as a U.S. Congressman. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln appointed him the first Chief justice of the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court. Edgerton lobbied for the creation of separate territories, out of the Idaho Territory, and in 1864, Abraham Lincoln appointed Edgerton as the first Territorial Governor of Montana. During his term as Territorial Governor, he was an alleged member of the infamous Montana Vigilantes, and was reputedly among its founders.

He was a sickly child that was not expected to survive; burial clothing was ordered for him. He survived and, eventually, moved to Ohio. He became a lawyer, and was involved in both the Free Soil Party and the Republican Party. After John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, Edgerton was invited, by Brown's family, to settle Brown's affairs. He never was able to meet with Brown. He had a successful career as a politician, and after his term ended in the Territory of Montana, Edgerton returned to Ohio. He served as a lawyer in his home state until his death in 1900.
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