Maria S. Edgerton

Narrative:

     Maria S. Edgerton was born on 24 Dec 1839 in Sidney, Delaware Co., New York.^5,6,7
     She moved to Franklin with her parents about 1847.¹¹
     She appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Franklin, Delaware Co., New York, in the household of her parents, Nathan Edgerton and Emily [surname unknown].¹²
     Several un-sourced online trees show her mother's death date as Jul 1851, when Maria was a 11 years old, and her father's death as 1 Jul 1856, when she was 16 years old.
     Maria appeared on the 1855 State Census of Franklin, Delaware Co., New York, enumerated 23 Jun 1855, in a hotel operated by her brother Edward and his wife, and his partner Francis Fagan. Edward's one-year-old son was listed as resident there, as were two servants and four boarders.¹³

Moving to the West --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Maria moved to Iowa by 1860, where she became a public school teacher.¹⁴ She appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, enumerated 1 Jun 1860, in the household of William H. Leas, a banker, his wife, and two children, apparently as a boarder. Anna Arnet, a 17-year-old Norwegian servant was also listed in the household.¹⁵
     Maria married Webster T. Dart, son of William Samuel Dart and Marietta Cobb, on 21 Nov 1864 in Rockford, Winnebago Co., Illinois, with Rev. S. F. Holt offciating.^8,9
     Maria and Webster settled in Des Moines after their marriage.
     Maria and Webster appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, enumerated 23 Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $4,000 and personal estate of $6,000. Anna Hill, a 19-year-old Swedish domestic servant was also listed as living in the household.¹⁶
     She was a city librarian by 1880, continuing until at least 1885.^17,18
     Maria and Webster appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, at 1003 Locust St, enumerated 15 Jun 1880. Also listed in the household were Mary A. Boyce, a 77-year-old widow, listed as a boarder; Johanna Mulana, a servant; and two lodgers, Foster Ross, a bookstore clerk, and Robert Parrott, a fire insurance agent.¹⁹
     Webster moved to Colfax, about 25 miles east of Des Moines, after 1880, but it appears that Maria did not join him there.^20,21
     Maria appeared on the 1885 State Census of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, at 208 1st St..²²
     Her husband died on 14 Sep 1888 in Denver, Colorado, where he was staying at the Capitol Hotel.^23,24,25

Administering Her Husband's Estate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Maria was issued letters of administration on 25 Sep 1888 in Jasper Co., Iowa, for the estate of her husband, who had died intestate (without leaving a will). She posted a bond of $3,000, with his brother-in-law, Joseph A. Ankeney, and J. R. Ryan as sureties.²⁶ She filed and inventory of his personal property the same day, listing a horse valued at $60, which she claimed as widow, and small delivery wagon and a two wheel cart valued at $42.²⁷ On 13 Nov 1888 the court approved her request to pay herself as widow $600 as support.²⁸
     On 17 Jan 1889 the she filed a report of her sale of the land owned by the estate, consisting of a lot and part of another in Colfax. The two properties were appraised at $8,000 in total, with mortgages totaling $7,000. When the property was sold, after paying the first mortgages, interest, taxes, and her dower interest of $800, $1,601 was left to the estate.²⁹
     Maria filed the first settlement of the estate on 26 Mar 1889, reported she had collected $1,643 from sale of personal property and real estate. She had disbursed $284 in taxes, interest, doctor's bills and repairs, and the $600 in support to herself, and had paid to Maria's brother-in-law, Joseph A. Ankeney, $525 to reimburse him for expenses he had paid for final expenses and to return the body for burial. This left cash on hand of $235, with listed unpaid claims of $5,708.³⁰
     Maria filed the final settlement of the estate on 12 Oct 1889, listing receipts of $1,643 and total disbursements of $1,817. She said she had paid over $1,000 in other claims against her late husband that had not been filed against the estate, and asked that the estate be closed.³¹

Living as a Widow --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     She left for England on 8 Jun 1895, staying at 51 Torrington Sq., London.³² She applied for a passport 1 Aug 1895, at the U.S. Embassy in London in order to travel to the Continent, stating she would return to the United States within two years. As identification she presented a letter from the governor of Iowa and a letter of credit from the 1st National Bank of Chicago.³²
     Maria appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, at 832 16th St., enumerated 13 Jun 1900, reporting she rented her home.³³
     Maria left a will dated 19 Apr 1901 stating she was of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, in which she directed that $1,000 be set aside for funeral expenses, last sickness, court costs and a headstone for her grave, with any amount unneeded to be distributed pro rata to her named beneficiaries. She left $600 to the widow of her brother Edward, $500 each to three nephews, $100 each to ten other relatives including two children of her late husband's sister, Alice and Stewart Hill Ankeney, $50 each to four other people whose relationship was not stated and $40 to another, $25 to the Excelsior Society of Franklin, New York, $1,500 to St. Paul's Church there, and $200 to her executor, J. D. Whisenand, for his services. If the estate was insufficient to pay these bequests, or had more than needed, the difference was to be distributed among the named beneficiaries pro rata.³⁴
     Maria died on 5 Feb 1902 in Franklin, New York, at age 62.¹⁰

Administering her Will --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Her will was probated on 11 Mar 1902 in Polk Co., Iowa.³⁴
     The inventory of the estate has not been found, but we know of some of its assets. On 11 Sep 1902 the executor sought approval to sell household goods, some in Des Moines, and some in Franklin, appraised at $400. Approval was granted two days later.³⁵ On 20 Feb 1903 the executor sought approval to dispose of 30 shares of stock in The State Trust Company, a corporation organized to serve estates and guardians in fiduciary roles. Due to questions about the legal ability of corporations to serve in those roles in Iowa, plans were underway to dissolve the corporation. The executor had obtained an offer from the company to purchase the shares for $2,500. The request was approved the same day.³⁶
     On 18 Apr 1903 the executor sought approval to disburse the bequests stated in the will, totalling $5,065. He said he had on hand $7,669, enough to pay the bequests, unpaid costs, a grave monument, and collateral inheritance taxes. The tax was due under Iowa law because the beneficiaries were not Maria's lineal descendants, since most of them were collateral relatives. The request was approved the same day.³⁷
     The court found 9 Jun 1905 that the executor had $1,627 on hand after paying the bequests and expenses. After allowing $300 to the executor for "his extraordinary services," and $100 to the attorney, the balance was to be paid pro rata to the beneficiaries. The estate was formally closed 24 Jul 1905.³⁸