James C. Edson

James C. Edson (February 25, 1825 - January 27, 1891) was a lawyer, judge, military officer, politician, hotelier, and settler of Glencoe, Minnesota. He served as the county judge of McLeod County, Minnesota, and was 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. He was the son of Jacob Edson and Sophronia Bowen, and was the eldest of five children. He grew up as a farmer and was trained as an apprentice carpenter and millwright. He later returned to New York and studied law at the State and National Law School in Poughkeepsie, New York for two years. of the 4th Minnesota Infantry Regiment. Company B was organized on September 26, 1861 in Glencoe and marched to Fort Snelling to join the rest of the regiment. The majority of Company B were from McLeod County while many of the rest came from southern Meeker County, Minnesota. 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.

During the Second Battle of Corinth Edson was appointed as the acting rank of Major of the regiment despite being officially only a Captain. He re-enlisted in the 4th Minnesota on August 6, 1863 when his original 3-year enlistment expired. Edson was formally promoted to the rank of Major on February 11, 1864. On September 1, 1864, He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel shortly before the Battle of Allatoona. 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. using lumber sourced from Red Wing, Minnesota. He added on 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 razed in 1988. Edson was elected as the Judge of the 8th Judicial District in 1888 and served under Governor Andrew Ryan McGill. Edson died in office in 1891; his successor was Francis Cadwell of Le Sueur County, Minnesota.

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 promoted the livelihood and interests of farmers. He 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.

Personal life and death Edson was married twice; his first wife was Sarah Ann Richards of Binghamton, New York, his second was Susan McFeeley. His 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. 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.

Edson died on January 27, 1891 at the age of 65 of Bright's disease (a historical classification for kidney disease). He is buried at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Glencoe alongside his first wife Sarah.