Samuel Cook Edsall


Samuel Cook Edsall was a bishop of North Dakota and Minnesota in The Episcopal Church.
The son of James K. Edsall, Illinois Attorney General, Edsall graduated from Racine College, and after admission to the bar, 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 in 1888, and priest in 1889. 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.
In 1901, he became bishop of Minnesota upon the death of bishop Henry Whipple. He then moved to Minneapolis and made it the new headquarters of the Diocese of Minnesota. He served 16 years, dying in office and succeeded by his suffragan, Frank McElwain.