Samuel Cook Edsall

Samuel Cook Edsall (February 15, 1860 – February 17, 1917) was a bishop of North Dakota and Minnesota in The Episcopal Church.

The Right Reverend Samuel Cook Edsall D.D.
Bishop of Minnesota
1899 photo of Samuel Cook Edsall with his signature
Church	Episcopal Church
Diocese	Minnesota
Elected	June 6, 1901
In office	1901–1917
Predecessor	Henry Benjamin Whipple
Successor	Frank Arthur McElwain
Previous post(s)	Bishop of North Dakota (1899-1901)
Orders
Ordination	June 2, 1889 by William Edward McLaren
Consecration	January 25, 1899 by William Edward McLaren
Personal details
Born	(1860-02-15)February 15, 1860 Dixon, Illinois, United States
Died	February 17, 1917(1917-02-17) (aged 57) Rochester, Minnesota, United States[1]
Buried	Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon
Nationality	American
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	James K. Edsall & Caroline Florella More
Spouse	Grace Harmon ​ (m. 1883)​
Alma mater	Racine College

Biography

The son of James K. Edsall, Illinois Attorney General, and Caroline Florella More, Edsall graduated from Racine College, and after admission to the bar in 1882, initially followed his father's career, practicing law in Chicago.

However, Edsall became increasingly drawn to spiritual matters. He attended Western Theological Seminary, was ordained deacon on December 23, 1888, and priest on June 2, 1889, by Bishop William Edward McLaren. He served as rector of St. Peter's church in Chicago for a decade.

The 1898 General Convention chose Edsall as the Missionary Bishop of North Dakota and he was consecrated in Chicago on January 25, 1899.^[2]

In June 6, 1901, he was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Minnesota,^[3] and upon the death of bishop Henry Whipple, he succeeded as diocesan. He was installed on October 3, 1901. He then moved to Minneapolis and made it the new headquarters of the Diocese of Minnesota.^[4] He served 16 years, dying in office and succeeded by his suffragan, Frank McElwain.