Edgar A. Wedgwood

{{Infobox military person

|name = Edgar A. Wedgwood

|image = Edgar A. Wedgwood (US Army brigadier general).jpg

|caption = From 1914's Men of Affairs in the State of Utah: A Newspaper Reference Work

|birth_date ={{Birth date|1856|05|02}}

|death_date ={{Death date and age|1920|01|31|1856|05|02}}

|birth_place =Lowell, Massachusetts, US

|death_place =Salt Lake City, Utah, US

|placeofburial =Mount Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah

|allegiance ={{flag|United States|1912}}

|branch = 25px United States Army

|serviceyears = 1876–1918

|rank = 30px Brigadier General

|commands = Company M, 1st Utah Infantry Regiment
Battery A, Utah Light Artillery
Utah National Guard
82nd Infantry Brigade, 41st Division
Camp Greene, North Carolina

|unit =

|battles = Spanish–American War
Philippine–American War
World War I

|awards =

|laterwork = Attorney

|spouse = Annie M. Shelton (m. 1886–1920, his death)

|children = 3

}}

Edgar A. Wedgwood (May 2, 1856 – January 31, 1920) was an attorney and National Guard officer prominent in Nebraska and Utah. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, and World War I, he was most notable for his service as adjutant general of the Utah National Guard from 1910 to 1917.

A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Wedgwood moved to Nebraska as a young man and became active in the home building business. Despite being a Democrat in a Republican community, he twice won election as sheriff of Hall County and served from 1885 to 1889. In addition, he served on the city council of Grand Island and as city treasurer of Wood River. While serving as sheriff, Wedgwood studied law, and he was admitted to the bar in 1890.

After becoming an attorney, Wedgwood moved to Utah, practicing law first in Provo and then in Salt Lake City. He was active in charitable and civic causes and served for several years on the state board of bar examiners. A veteran of the National Guard in Nebraska and Utah, Wedgwood served in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War and Philippine–American War, and was wounded during combat in the Philippines. He remained active in the National Guard after returning to the United States and served as adjutant general of the Utah National Guard from 1907 to 1917.

Wedgwood returned to active duty for World War I. Commissioned as a brigadier general, he commanded 82nd Infantry Brigade, 41st Division. Ill health prevented Wedgwood from going to France with his brigade, and he retired from the military and returned to Salt Lake City in early 1918.

After returning to Utah, Wedgwood resumed practicing law. He became ill in early 1920 and died on January 31, 1920. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Salt Lake City.

Early life

Edgar Andrew Wedgwood was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on May 2, 1856, a son of Theresa A. (Gould) Wedgwood and Andrew J. Wedgwood, a machinist.{{sfn|Biographical and Historical Memoirs|page=703}} He was educated in the public schools of Lowell, and graduated from Lowell High School in 1873.{{sfn|Biographical and Historical Memoirs|page=703}}{{sfn|City Documents|page=35}}

When Wedgwood was 23, his father relocated the family to Grand Island, Nebraska, and Wedgwood went with him.{{sfn|Biographical and Historical Memoirs|page=703}} In addition to assisting on his father's farm, Wedgwood became active in the home building business.{{sfn|Biographical and Historical Memoirs|page=703}}

Start of career

Even though he was a Democrat in Hall County, a staunchly Republican community, in 1885 Wedgwood won election as county sheriff.{{sfn|Biographical and Historical Memoirs|page=702}} He served for four years, and left office in 1889.{{sfn|Biographical and Historical Memoirs|page=702}} While living in Grand Island, Wedgwood served on the city council, and after moving to Wood River, he served as city treasurer.{{sfn|Biographical and Historical Memoirs|page=703}} Wedgwood studied law while serving as sheriff, and in November 1890 he was admitted to the bar.{{sfn|"Supreme Court: Edgar A. Wedgwood"|page=4}}

Wedgwood was a member of the Masons, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Knights of Pythias.{{sfn|Biographical and Historical Memoirs|page=703}} He was a devout Baptist, and served his churches as a senior deacon and in other leadership roles.{{sfn|Generals in Khaki|page=374}} After moving to Utah, Wedgwood was a member of the board of directors for Salt Lake City's Charity Organization Society and a member of the state board of bar examiners.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}}

Continued career

In 1890, Wedgwood was invited to join the Provo, Utah law practice of George Sutherland, and he moved to Utah.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=129}} Sutherland moved to Salt Lake City in 1893, and Wedgwood entered into a new partnership which included Samuel R. Thurman.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=129}} After Joseph Lafayette Rawlins and Joseph H. Hurd joined the firm, it was called Rawlins, Thurman, Hurd and Wedgwood.{{sfn|"Soldier-Lawyer of Utah is Dead"|page=1}} After returning from military service during the Spanish–American War in 1898, Wedgwood moved to Salt Lake City, where he practiced law in partnership with Hurd.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=129}}

In 1906, Thurman moved to Salt Lake City to resume practicing law with Wedgwood.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=129}} They took on another partner, A. B. Irvine, and the firm was reorganized as Thurman, Wedgwood & Irvine.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=129}} When Thurman was elected to the Utah Supreme Court in 1917, Wedgwood and Irvine formed a partnership with Samuel R. Thurman Jr., and the firm was renamed Wedgwood, Irvine & Thurman.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}}

Wedgwood specialized in irrigation law and was recognized as an authority in the field.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}} Among the cases he argued was Snake Creek Mining and Tunnel Company vs. Midway Irrigation Company.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|pages=130-131}} The case moved back and forth between state and federal courts over several years and eventually ended with a decision that favored the irrigation company and farmers represented by Wedgwood's firm, but the final resolution of the case came after Wedgwood's death.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=131}}

Military service

=Early service=

While still living in Massachusetts in the 1870s, Wedgwood was one of the organizers of a new National Guard unit, Company C, 6th Massachusetts Infantry.{{sfn|"Gen. E. A. Wedgwood Dies"|page=2}} After moving to Nebraska, he helped organize Company H, 1st Nebraska Infantry, in which he remained active until moving to Utah.{{sfn|"Gen. E. A. Wedgwood Dies"|page=2}}

Wedgwood continued his military service as a member of the Utah National Guard, serving as a first lieutenant in Company M, 1st Utah Infantry Regiment.{{sfn|Men of Affairs|page=273}} By 1898, he was the company commander, and had been promoted to captain.{{sfn|"Utah Officers Appointed"|page=8}}

=Spanish–American War=

File:Edgar A. Wedgwood (US Army brigadier general 1899).png

At the start of the Spanish–American War, Wedgwood helped organize Battery B, Utah Light Artillery for federal service, and was chosen as the battery's first lieutenant.{{sfn|Men of Affairs|page=273}}{{sfn|"Utah Officers Appointed"|page=8}} He was promoted to captain as commander of Battery A, and served in the Philippines.{{sfn|Men of Affairs|page=273}}

Wedgwood participated in more than 20 engagements during the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War that followed, and was wounded during the Battle of Quingua.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=129}}{{sfn|"Lieut. Wedgwood Wounded"}} After the war, Salt Lake City-area veterans formed a camp of the United Spanish War Veterans, which they named in Wedgwood's honor.{{sfn|"Will Hold Social Tonight"}}

=Adjutant general of Utah=

After returning to Utah in 1899, Wedgwood continued his involvement with the National Guard.{{sfn|Men of Affairs|page=273}} Despite being a Democrat in a mostly Republican state and a Baptist in a state dominated by Mormons, in January 1907 he was appointed to a five-year term as adjutant general of Utah by Governor John Christopher Cutler and promoted to the rank of brigadier general.{{sfn|Men of Affairs|page=273}} He was reappointed by Governor William Spry, and he served until the completion of his second term in January 1917.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=129}} In 1913, he was appointed to the federal militia board, the panel that enabled states to participate in planning and activities at the Militia Bureau.{{sfn|Men of Affairs|page=273}}

=World War I=

In 1917, Wedgwood volunteered for active duty during World War I.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}} He was commissioned as a brigadier general and assigned to Camp Fremont, California as commander of the 82nd Infantry Brigade, a unit of the 41st Division.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}} He organized and trained his brigade at Camp Fremont and at Camp Greene, North Carolina.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}} Because of ill health, Wedgwood was relieved of command when the 41st Division embarked for France in November 1917.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}}

After the 41st Division left for France, Wedgwood remained in command of the Camp Greene military post.{{sfn|"Commander of Camp Busy Man"|page=1}} He retired on medical grounds in early 1918 and returned to Salt Lake City.{{sfn|"Another Utahn Made Brigadier"|page=1}}

Later life

After returning to Utah, Wedgwood resumed the practice of law in Salt Lake City.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}} He became ill in January 1920, and died in Salt Lake City on January 31, 1920.{{sfn|Proceedings of the Annual Session|page=130}} He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.{{sfn|"Military Rites for Wedgwood"|page=10}} Wedgwood's death was attributed to neuritis caused by abscessed teeth.{{sfn|"Military Rites for Wedgwood"|page=10}}

Family

In 1886, Wedgwood married Annie M. Shelton (1860–1941), who was originally from Chicago.{{sfn|Generals in Khaki|page=374}} They were the parents of two sons, Frederick (died in infancy) and Bruce (1889–1948), and a daughter, Edgarda (1888–1873), the wife of Richard C. Dugdale.{{sfn|Generals in Khaki|page=374}}

References

Sources

=Books=

{{cite book |date=1890 |title=Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton Counties, Nebraska |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t0dv1tm8c&view=2up&seq=728 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=Goodspeed Publishing Co. |via=HathiTrust |ref={{sfnRef|Biographical and Historical Memoirs}}}}
{{cite book |last=City of Lowell |date=1874 |title=City Documents of the City of Lowell for the Year 1873-74 |url=https://archive.org/details/lowellma-citydocs-1873-74/page/n229/mode/2up/ |location=Lowell, MA |publisher=Marden & Rowell |via=Internet Archive |ref={{sfnRef|City Documents}}}}
{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Henry Blaine Jr. |date=1998 |title=Generals in Khaki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJvvAAAAMAAJ&q=%22generals+in+khaki%22 |location=Raleigh, NC |publisher=Pentland Press |isbn=978-1-5719-7088-6 |via=Google Books |ref={{sfnRef|Generals in Khaki}}}}
{{cite book |last=Press Club of Salt Lake |date=1914 |title=Men of Affairs in the State of Utah: A Newspaper Reference Work |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aEFOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PT273 |location=Salt Lake City, UT |publisher=Western Printing Co. |via=Google Books |ref={{sfnRef|Men of Affairs}}}}
{{cite book |last=State Bar Association of Utah |date=1924 |title=Proceedings of the Annual Session |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=keIDAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA128 |location=Kaysville, UT |publisher=Inland Printing Company |via=Google Books |ref={{sfnRef|Proceedings of the Annual Session}}}}

=Newspapers=

{{cite news |date=November 12, 1890 |title=Supreme Court: Edgar A. Wedgwood |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52007584/supreme-court/ |work=Omaha Daily Bee |location=Omaha, NE |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Supreme Court: Edgar A. Wedgwood"}}}}
{{cite news |date=May 5, 1898 |title=Utah Officers Appointed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52008616/wedgwood-captain/ |work=Salt Lake Daily Herald |location=Salt Lake City, UT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Utah Officers Appointed"}}}}
{{cite news |date=May 26, 1899 |title=Lieut. Wedgwood Wounded |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52011167/wedwood-wounded/ |work=Salt Lake Herald |location=Salt Lake City, UT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Lieut. Wedgwood Wounded"}}}}
{{cite news |date=August 13, 1906 |title=Will Hold Social Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52013210/social-tonight/ |work=Salt Lake Herald |location=Salt Lake City, UT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Will Hold Social Tonight"}}}}
{{cite news |date=September 13, 1917 |title=Commander of Camp Busy Man |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52012013/commander-busy/ |work=The Charlotte News |location=Charlotte, NC |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Commander of Camp Busy Man"}}}}
{{cite news |date=September 10, 1918 |title=Another Utahn Made Brigadier |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52012305/utahn-brigadier/ |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City, UT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Another Utahn Made Brigadier"}}}}
{{cite news |date=January 31, 1920 |title=Gen. E. A. Wedgwood Dies at His Home After Brief Illness |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52010047/wedgwood-dies/ |work=Deseret Evening News |location=Salt Lake City, UT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Gen. E. A. Wedgwood Dies"}}}}
{{cite news |date=February 1, 1920 |title=Soldier-Lawyer of Utah is Dead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52014695/soldier-lawyer/ |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City, UT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Soldier-Lawyer of Utah is Dead"}}}}
{{cite news |date=February 2, 1920 |title=Military Rites for Wedgwood |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52010367/wedgwood-rites/ |work=Salt Lake Herald |location=Salt Lake City, UT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Military Rites for Wedgwood"}}}}

External links

[http://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/14/resources/5102 Edgar A. Wedgwood letters] at L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library, Brigham Young University
[https://history.utah.gov/finding-aids/data/B00399/ The Edgar A. Wedgwood Papers, 1836-1920] at Utah State Historical Society

{{Succession box

|title = Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard

|years = 1907-1917

|before = Raymond C. Naylor

|after = Hans M. H. Lund}}

Category:1856 births

Category:1920 deaths

Category:Nebraska Democrats

Category:Utah Democrats

Category:Nebraska sheriffs

Category:Military personnel from Lowell, Massachusetts

Category:People from Grand Island, Nebraska