Biographical Sketch of

Captain Edson E. Terrill

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 410 - 412


Captain Edson E. Terrill, an honored pioneer citizen of Waushara County, residing on section 32, in the town of Leon, 
is a native of Chittenden County, Vermont. He was born June 16, 1829 and is of English descent. His grandfather, 
Jonathan Terrill, was also born in the Green Mountain State, where he lived the peaceful life of a farmer. He was a 
soldier of the War of 1812, and served in the battle of Plattsburg. Enoch E. Terrill, fathe rof the Captain, was born 
in Chittenden County in 1807, and throughout his entire life followed agricultural pursuits. He came to Waushara County 
in 1850 and settled on what is now section 3, in the town of Leon, where he developed a good farm. At the time of his 
arrival the county was in a wild and unsettled condition, the work of progress and development having been scarcely 
begun. He was the first white settler in the immediate locality in which he settled, but he lived to see many great 
changes, and took an active part in the upbuilding of the county. He wedded Mary Weatherby, a native of Massachusetts, 
born near the city of Boston June 16, 1811. Her parents were Edward and Cynthia (Barrington) Weatherby. They were 
natives of Massachusetts but removed to Vermont at an early day, and in that state spent the remainder of their lives. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Terrill were born nine children, six sons and three daughters, our subject being the eldest of the 
number. Mr. Terrill departed this life in 1875. In politics he was an uncompromising Whig, and an able defender of 
the principles which he advocated. He held the office of Justice of the Peace during the greater part of his residence 
in Waushara County, and was numbered among the worthy and valued citizens of the community.

Until fourteen years of age, Capt. Terrill remained at home on his father's farm, but desiring to follow some other 
pursuit than that of agriculture, he went to Manchester, N.H., where he was employed in a cotton factory until he 
had attained to mature years. One of the most important events of his life occurred while in that city; his marriage 
with Hannah H. Richardson, a native of the Granite State. Their union was blessed with a family of nine children, all 
of whom are living, with the exception of Henry, the second son, who died Oct. 17, 1886. The other children are as 
follows: Warren, Alonzo, Charles, Jay, Clyde, Viola, Anna and Kittie Belle.

In 1850 Capt. Terrill emigrated to Wisconsin, believing it for the best interests of himself and family. After 
travelling some days he at length reached Strong's Landing, Green Lake county, with only $1.65 in his pocket. He 
settled in Ontario township, now the town of Leon, where he made a claim of eighty acres of the wild and unimproved 
land, upon which he built a one-room log cabin. He there began life in true pioneer style, and has become one of 
the leading farmers of Waushara county. The following year after his arrival, he entered the employ of Samuel Perrin, 
who had a contract with the Surveyor General of Wisconsin to make the government surveys of Wisconsin from township 
14 to Shawano. After following that business for four months the Captain returned to the farm and gave his undivided 
attention to its cultivation until, believing that duty called him elsewhere, he responded to his country's call for 
troops.

He enlisted as a private in Company I, 7th Wisconsin Infantry, in June 1861. The company first went to Washington, 
D.C., and during the succeeding winter was encamped at Arlington Heights, the headquarters of the army being at the 
residence of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Company I formed a part of the 1st Army Corps, commanded by General McDowell. It 
participated in the battles of Rappahannock, Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, and the second battle of Bull Run, where 
Capt. Terrill was twice slightly wounded and afterward taken prisoner. All of the slightly wounded prisoners were 
permitted to go to Harper's Ferry or Richmond after signing a parole. Our subject walked eighty-four miles on his 
crutches to Harper's Ferry, from whence he was sent to Columbus, Ohio, and after three months went home on a sick 
furlough. Regaining his health he rejoined his command at Belles Plaine, Virginia in March 1863. That winter he 
participated in the battles of Pittsburg and Chancellorsville, which was followed by the engagement at Beverly 
Ford on the 9th of June. No important battle then occurred until the hotly contested one at Gettysburg. The brigade 
to which he belonged was the first to strike the rebel infantry and Gen. Reynolds, who commanded the corps was 
killed. Although many of his comrades there laid down their lives on the altar of their country, the Captain escaped 
uninjured. After the battle many of the different corps were disbanded and re-organized, and Company I was assigned 
to the 5th Corps, commanded by Gen. Warren. In the fall of 1863, the battle of Wine Run was fought after which the 
army went to winter quarters. Several important engagements occurred the following spring, including the battles 
of the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, White Oak Church, Spottsylvania Court House, and the following year the seige of 
Petersburg. His faithful service and valiant conduct on the battle field won promotion for Mr. Terrill, and he was 
made captain of his company, in which position he served until the close of the war. After more than four years 
spent on Southern battlefields, during which he shared in many hardships and privations incident to army life, he 
was honorably discharged at Jeffersonville, Ind., on the 3rd of July, 1865.

While in the service Capt. Terrill was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died very suddenly on the 
16th of January, 1863. He was again married Jan. 28, 1864, his second union being with Eliza J. Morson. His wife 
is a member of the Congregational Church, and a most estimable lady. The captain still continues his farming 
operations, and is the owner of 205 acres of arable land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and 
well improved. Stock raising also occupies considerable of his attention, he making a specialty of breeding Jersey 
cattle. In political sentiment he is a staunch Republican, having supported that party since its organization. For 
six years he held the Chairmanship of the Town Board of Leon Township, and served as the first postmaster of Terrill. 
In 1882 he was elected treasurer of Waushara County for a term of two years, and the prompt and able manner with 
which he discharged his duties led to his re-election in 1884. Socially the Captain is a member of Edwin Saxe Post, 
No. 135, G.A.R. 






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