California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


A. S. EDGERLY. A resident of California and Fresno county since 1887, A. S. Edgerly has been actively 
engaged in the upbuilding of the city of Fresno since that date. He was born in New Hampton, N. H., 
March 15, 1834, a son of David and Sarah (Sanborn) Edgerly, both of whom were born in Meredith, N. 
H., and there died at advanced ages. The grandfather, Samuel Edgerly, was born in the New England 
states, of English parentage. On the maternal side the grandfather, Asa L. Sanborn, was of English 
ancestry and was a farmer. Edwin and Orrin Edgerly were soldiers in the Civil war, the former being 
wounded in an engagement. 

The sixth in order of birth of twelve children, A. S. Edgerly was reared on a farm in New Hampshire, at 
New Hampton and Meredith, until nineteen years of age, being given such advantages as the 
common schools afforded. He entered New Hampton Institution, then Hillsdale College, where he 
remained but one year, when, on account of failing health, he was obliged to leave. He engaged in 
teaching near Cuthbert, Ga., in 1859, as proprietor of Springvale Institute, and remained at the head of 
that institution until 1866, at which time he went to Sandwich, Mass., as principal of the high school, 
and held that position four years. Engaging then in the life insurance business, he was made special 
state agent for Vermont of the Continental Life Insurance Company of New York. 

In 1873 he removed to Otoe county, Neb., and at Palmyra purchased six hundred and forty acres of 
railroad land and engaged in the stock business until 1875, when he removed to Lincoln and went into 
the hardware business under the firm name of Parker & Edgerly, which continued four years. The 
partnership being dissolved, Mr. Edgerly embarked in the real estate business, buying, improving and 
selling residence and business properties until 1887. Disposing of his interests, he located in California 
and at once settled in Fresno, where he engaged in the real estate business. Having a firm belief in the 
future of that city, in 1889 he manufactured the brick and erected the Edgerly block on the corner of 
Tulare and J streets. In 1891 he built an addition, the whole being 150x70 feet, with an L 40x80 feet, 
three stories high. He also improved considerable residence and other business property in the city. 
Among his other enterprises worthy of special mention is the laying out of the Hartley addition of ten 
acres into lots, which was soon disposed of. With William Harvey and W. R. Thomas he laid out the 
Belmont addition of eighty acres, which was sold off in two months in city lots, with the exception of 
three blocks which had been reserved. He now owns two hundred acres, one mile north of Fresno on 
Blackstone avenue, which is devoted to a vineyard, and also has an orchard and vineyard of "forty 
acres near Fowler. 

At West Sandwich (now Sagamore), Mass., August 6, 1859, Mr. Edgerly was united in marriage with 
Lydia-E.. Crowell, who was a native of that place and a daughter of Paul and Lydia (Ellis) Crowell, both 
natives of Massachusetts, the former of Dennis and the latter of Plymouth. Of their six children three 
are now living, Mrs. Edgerly being the second in order of birth. To Mr. arid Mrs. Edgerly six children 
have been born, namely: Willie Alberto, a vineyardist; Nellie Effie D., wife of R. E. Wheeler, of Fresno; 
Lillian May Rebecca, the wife of J. S. Gardner, of Fresno;' Charles D., at home; Fred Lincoln and Nellie 
Elsie died in infancy. 

Through the influence of Mr. Edgerly the location of the postoffice was secured for the corner of 
Tulare and J streets, by giving the lower floor space, 50x70 feet, to the government for use for a term 
of years free of charge, with the understanding that the property holders adjacent to that corner 
would pay the rent of one-half the space. This arrangement was entered into and was carried out for 
only a few months, when the property owners repudiated their part of the agreement, with the 
exception of Dr. Chester Rowell, who still fulfills his part. In this way Mr. Edgerly practically gave the 
use of his building gratis from 1891 until he sold it in 1895. 

In politics a Republican, Mr. Edgerly has always had the interests of the party at heart, though never an 
aspirant for official recognition. As one of the enterprising citizens of Fresno county, he has ever been 
a supporter of measures that have had for their object the advancement of the people and the 
prestige of Fresno in the San Joaquin valley. His success in life has been of his own making, and in the 
annals of his adopted state his name is entitled to enrollment among the progressive builders of a 
commonwealth.