John P. Edge Explained

John P. Edge
State House:Pennsylvania
Term Start:1875
Term End:1878
Predecessor:Levi Prizer and Elisha W. Baily
Birth Name:John Pennell Edge
Birth Date:22 June 1822
Birth Place:East Caln Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Downingtown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting Place:Downingtown Friends Meetinghouse Cemetery
Alma Mater:Jefferson Medical College (MD)

John Pennell Edge (June 22, 1822 – March 7, 1904) was an American politician from Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing Chester County from 1875 to 1878.

Early life

John Pennell Edge was born on June 22, 1822, in the Ship tavern house in East Caln Township, Pennsylvania. He attended neighborhood schools and the Westtown Friends' Boarding School for three years. He taught public and private schools and read medicine. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1846 or 1847 with a Doctor of Medicine.[1] [2]

Career

Edge served as a private in Companies D and I in the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment in 1861.[1] He was a teacher and farmer.[1] He practiced medicine in Downingtown.[3]

Edge was a Republican. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing Chester County from 1875 to 1878.[1] [4] He was chairman of the geologic survey committee.[2] He organized the bill to establish the Pennsylvania Board of Agriculture.[3] In 1880, he ran unsuccessful for the Pennsylvania Senate.[1]

Edge was appointed as a member of the Pennsylvania Board of Agriculture. He was appointed by Governor John F. Hartranft and served on the board in 1877 and was re-appointed by multiple administrations. He was superintendent of the board under Governor Daniel H. Hastings in the 1890s.[1] [2] He was president of the Downingtown Library Company for a time.[5] He was a member of the Chester County Medical Society after its reorganization.[2]

Personal life

Edge died on March 7, 1904, at his home in Downingtown. He was interred at Downingtown Friends Meetinghouse Cemetery.[1] [3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John P. Edge . Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives . 2023-12-21.
  2. Book: History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches . Futhey . J. Smith . Cope . Gilbert . 1881 . Louis H. Everts . 528–529 . . 2023-12-21.
  3. News: Dr. Edge Dead . 1904-03-10 . The Herald . 1 . . 2023-12-21.
  4. Book: Chester County and Its People . Thomson . W. W. . 1898 . The Union History Company . 441 . . 2023-12-21.
  5. Book: Pennypacker, Charles H. . History of Downingtown, Chester County, Pa. . 1909 . Downingtown Publishing Company . 113 . . 2023-12-21.