Sidney Edgerton

John Brown in 1859

Edgerton began his House term in 1859.[6] As an abolitionist, he was at risk of attack; when his term began, he purchased a sword for his defense.[12] The sword was held, secretly, inside a walking cane.[8] As an ardent anti-slavery member of the House of Representatives, Edgerton made numerous speeches about its abolition. After John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, Edgerton was asked by Brown's family to come and settle his affairs.[13] This was very dangerous, as Edgerton was anti-slavery. Edgerton went by train, and was joined by Congressman Alexander Boteler and Congressman H. G. Blake. While on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Boteler was told that the men did not need to go on. Boteler and Blake listened to the advice, but Edgerton refused to go back.[14]

On his arrival at Charles Town, Edgerton found the commander of Harper's Ferry, General William Taliaferro.[8] Edgerton told Taliaferro about his request, but Taliaferro informed him that Governor Wise would only allow family and a minister to visit John Brown. That night, Taliaferro arranged for a wagon to take him back to Washington, D.C. Edgerton was given a driver and a guard, for his journey. During his ride back, a group of men on horses rode up, and Edgerton's guard jumped out of the wagon and ran. The men on horses retrieved the man, and brought him back to the wagon. Edgerton asked his guard why he ran, and the guard replied, "I heard them say that they would kill [you]".[15] The men on horses then attempted to get Edgerton to leave the wagon, but he refused. He eventually made it out of Virginia, but always believed had he left the wagon, the men would have killed him.[16] After this encounter, Edgerton viewed Southerners, generally, with contempt.[8] Edgerton continued to be a large voice in the anti-slavery movement, but decided not to run for reelection in 1862.[17][8]

On March 6, 1863, Edgerton was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln to be Chief Justice of the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court, and he was confirmed by the senate four days later.[19] His salary was to be $2,500 a year[20] (about $34,000 in 2009).[21] He left with his wife, his children, his niece, Lucia Darling, his nephew, Wilbur F. Sanders, Sanders' wife, Sanders' children, a family friend, Henry Tilden, and a young woman named Almarette Greer.[8] Edgerton's group first travelled to Cleveland, Ohio, by train, they then traveled, by boat, across Lake Erie, continuing, by train, to St. Joseph, Missouri, they then travelled, by steamboat, to Omaha, Nebraska.[8] They then bought their provisions, and began their trip on ox-drawn wagons. The party was met by good weather, and no bad confrontations with Native Americans. The group stopped at Chimney Rock, to visit. They then started off again, on their trip. One incident that did happen was when Edgerton fell from one of the wagons, and was almost crushed by one of the wheels. The group arrived at South Pass, in August 1863. After arriving in South Pass City, Edgerton received a telegraph message saying that the capital of the Territory of Idaho had yet to be decided. On August 15, as the group was heading west, a man arrived with a telegraph message saying that the capital of the Territory of Idaho was to be at Lewiston.[8] The message was welcome news to the group, but knew that to get to Lewiston, before the snows, would be difficult. As the group descended the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains, it was discovered that Mary Edgerton was pregnant. In September, the group arrived at the trail, beginning at the Blackfoot River. Edgerton realized, that it would not be possible to make it to Lewiston, before the snows. The group then changed its course for Bannack. The party crossed the Snake River, by ferry, on September 6. After crossing, they met Sheriff Henry Plummer. This would not be the last meeting between Edgerton and Plummer.[22] The group continued, and crossed Monida Pass. The group finally made it to Bannack, on September 16.[8]

After arriving in Bannack, Idaho Territory, Edgerton reported to Territorial Governor William Wallace.[23] Edgerton requested the designation of courts and districts, but no court was designated for his district. Wallace appointed Edgerton to one of the farthest and most remote places away from the capitol. When he arrived there was no administrator to administer the oath of office. He never took the oath of office and therefore he never legally took his position as Chief Justice.[24] The Edgerton's then bought a home at a Sheriff's sale for $400. The one room home became the first Montana Governor's Residence.[24] After arriving in his district, he began taking tours of the territory gold fields and gold camps. Edgerton realized the value of the gold fields, to the Union.[25] He was then chosen, by the local population, to go to Washington D.C.[26] His mission was to lobby for the split of the Territory of Idaho. Edgerton and Sanders then left in a stagecoach for Washington. Edgerton arrived with $2,500 in gold nuggets in his pockets[25] (about $34,000 in 2009).[21] He presented this to President Abraham Lincoln and numerous members of Congress. His lobbying paid off in 1864.[27] That year the Territory of Idaho split into three parts. The three parts included the Territory of Idaho, the Territory of Montana, and the Territory of Dakota.[6]

Idaho Territory, Montana Territory, and Dakota Territory, in 1864

Before leaving Washington, D.C. for the Territory of Idaho, Edgerton had a private meeting with President Abraham Lincoln, in which he asked for the position of Territorial Governor of Montana. Lincoln told Edgerton that he would think about it. Edgerton then left for the west, unsure of whether or not he would have a new position when he arrived, but on May 23, 1864, while on his way home, Mary Edgerton had a baby girl. She named her Idaho, unknowing of the fact that it was now the Territory of Montana. After seeing his skills in the Territory of Idaho, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Edgerton as the first Territorial Governor of Montana.[28]

Lincoln appointed Edgerton on June 22, 1864, and Edgerton found out on his arrival at Bannack. Bannack was created the capital of Montana Territory, and the Edgertons were able to keep their same home.[29] Edgerton was not supported by many settlers and miners in the Territory, as the majority were from border states and either supported the Confederacy or were Democrats who abhorred radical Republicans like him. There were even death threats for those who flew an American Flag.[30] Edgerton put together a quick census, so that an election could be held. The elections would be for the State Council, State House, and for the Delegate of the Territory of Montana to the House of Representatives. After the elections of 1865, Democrats took power in the House, and took the Delegate seat in the House of Representatives. While the Republicans took the Council. Numerous engagements between the Governor and Democrats occurred, causing troubles for the Montana Legislature.[31] In all, though, the legislature worked with Edgerton to pass numerous bills on roads, public education, irrigation, and mining.[32]

In 1865, Edgerton began to have to deal with threats from Native Americans. General Patrick Connor was sent to handle these threats. He led an expedition against the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, who were disrupting travelers along the Bozeman Trail.[33] Edgerton then issued a proclamation for five hundred volunteers to help defend immigrants. Numerous other battles were fought, and numerous treaties were signed between the Government of the Territory of Montana and the Native Americans.[33]

In 1865, Edgerton was forced to go East to secure funds for the territory.[28] The revenues being received were not enough to pay for expenses, and Edgerton himself gave large sums of his own money to the territory.[4][34] He hoped to both get funds for the state, and receive compensation for his expenditures. He would receive neither.[31] Edgerton left the Territory, in September 1865.[6] During this time, Edgerton was in Washington, D.C.[31][35] While he was away, Thomas Francis Meagher served as the acting Territorial Governor of Montana.[35] Despite remaining governor, until January 13, 1866, Edgerton did not return to Montana for 25 years.[36][31][37] To express their dislike for Edgerton, the state legislature changed the name of Edgerton County to Lewis and Clark County.[28]

Sheriff Henry Plummer, before his lynching

After numerous acts of lawlessness, and with no established court system, Edgerton supported his nephew, Wilbur F. Sanders, and other residents of Bannack and Virginia City as they organized the Vigilantes.[22] This group began meeting in secret, and began trying and lynching suspected criminals. On January 10, 1864, members of the Vigilance Committee traveled to Sheriff Henry Plummer's home. Plummer was suspected of murder, and the men coaxed him from his sickbed. They then grabbed him, and brought him to a gallows he had constructed for hangings. Then the men put a noose over his neck, and hanged him next to two of his deputies who were also accused of being road agents.[22][38] Along with the lynching of Plummer, the Montana Vigilantes hanged 22 road agents.[39] After these actions Edgerton's nephew, Wilbur F. Sanders, was forced to defend the group in Utah courts.[31]