EDWIN NORTHROP.
Edwin Northrop was born in Fishkill, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1838, his father being Jonas Northrop, of Bradford, Yorkshire County, England, who came to this country in the year 1830, at the age of nineteen. His mother, Ann Gaunt, was a native of Leeds, England.
Comrade Northrop received a common school education, and at the age of seventeen was apprenticed to learn wool sorting, and continued in this calling until his entrance into the service.
Comrade Northrop married Sarah Kyle, daughter of John Ballantine, of Blackstone, Mass., and four children were the fruit of this union.
At the commencement of the War of the Rebellion he made an ineffectual attempt to enlist in a company then forming in Woonsocket for the Second Rhode Island Infantry, afterwards designated as Company I, but so eager at that time were the young men of that town to enroll themselves among the defenders of the Union, that before Comrade Northrop’s turn came to enter the armory, it was announced that the roll was complete, and he was debarred the honor of enrolling his name with a company that won fame and renown in the annals of the history of the State.
Aug. 25, 1862, after making careful provision for his little family, he enlisted in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. He was mustered into service with his battery Oct. 14, 1862, and served faithfully and continuously with it until its final muster out June 28, 1865.
Soon after his return from the army he learned the dyer’s art, which calling he has since followed. He worked at his trade in Blackstone, Mass., leaving there in 1867, and settling in Norwalk, Conn. While here he became intensely interested in the principles of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was largely instrumental in the organization of Buckingham Post, No. 12, at that place. He was adjutant of the post from 1881 to 1883, and again in 1885, and its commander in 1884. He was aide-de-camp on the staff of Department Commander Ira E. Hicks, in 1882, and served the department as assistant mustering and inspecting officer.
In 1886 he removed with his family to Dalton, Mass., and here again took up the work of the Grand Army. He took an active part in organizing Hancock Post, No. 187, Department of Massachusetts. He was elected junior vice commander in 1887–8, senior vice commander 1889, commander 1890, and was also appointed post historian. His wife is an earnest working member of Hancock Woman’s Relief Corps, No. 133, of the Department of Massachusetts.
He was aide-de-camp to Department Commander Myron P. Walker; served as inspector and mustering officer, and was elected an alternate to the National Encampment in 1888.
On his removal to Kenyon, R. I., 1892, where he is employed by E. Kenyon & Sons, he became interested with the comrades of Burnside Post, No. 2, of Shannock, and before joining the post was, for services rendered, voted an honorary member. He is now (in 1894) commander of the post. He has received many testimonials of the esteem in which he is held by his comrades of Buckingham and Hancock posts, which he values very highly.
He is also a Free Mason, having joined the order in 1868, at Norwalk, Conn.