Edwin Henry Cheney (June 13, 1869 — December 18, 1942) was an American electrical engineer from Oak Park,

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

, United States. He was the son of James Wilson Cheney and Armilla Armanda, daughter of Linus S. and Rebekah J. (Jaegger) Perkins. His father was born in Royalton, Massachusetts, and moved to

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

with his parents ca. 1850. James W. entered

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1833, it is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational lib ...

in 1860 before enlisting in the 7th Ohio Infantry in April 1861. After his marriage to Armilla Perkins on May 27, 1868, he moved from Shelbyville, Illinois to

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

in 1870, where he engaged in manufacturing tool-handles and other specialty items. Edwin's adopted sister, Luella Emory Cheney, was born April 11, 1871. Cheney was born in Shelbyville and grew up in Detroit, attending the public schools there. He attended the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, graduating in 1892 with a Bachelor's degree in

Electrical Engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

. Upon graduation, he moved to

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

to begin his career with the Chicago Edison Co. (now known as Commonwealth Edison). He worked in various areas throughout his career, including electrical contracting and construction, steam heating, and fuel engineering. He held a U.S. patent for an improved boiler setting. He married fellow University of Michigan alumnus

Mamah Borthwick Martha Bouton "Mamah" Borthwick (June 19, 1869 – August 15, 1914) was an American translator who had a romantic relationship with architect Frank Lloyd Wright, which ended when she was murdered. She and Wright were instrumental in bringing the ...

on June 15, 1899, at the Borthwick family home in Oak Park. They had two children, John and Martha. Cheney commissioned

Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright Sr. (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed List of Frank Lloyd Wright works, more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key ...

to build his family a home in Oak Park, now called the Edwin H. Cheney House. Wright engaged in a love affair with Mamah Cheney, with whom he went to

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

in 1909. Upon their return, Mamah moved into

Taliesin Taliesin ( , ; 6th century AD) was an early Britons (Celtic people), Brittonic poet of Sub-Roman Britain whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the ''Book of Taliesin''. Taliesin was a renowned bard who is believed to ...

, the new house Wright was building for them, while it was still under construction. Mamah and Edwin Cheney were divorced in 1911. A year later, Edwin married Elizabeth Meller, a schoolteacher friend of Mamah's sister Lizzie Borthwick. On August 15, 1914, a domestic servant at Taliesin named Julian Carlton killed Mamah Borthwick, along with John and Martha Cheney, who happened to be visiting (Edwin Cheney had primary custody). Four others were also murdered during this event. After the murder of his biological children, Cheney and his second wife adopted 3 more children. They moved to

Webster Groves, Missouri Webster Groves is an inner-ring Greater St. Louis, suburb of St. Louis in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 24,010 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city is home to the main campus of Webster Universit ...

in 1926, following Cheney's promotion to Vice President of Sales for the Wagner Electric Corporation. He had begun work for Wagner in 1909 as its Chicago district manager. He worked for Wagner until his death.

Notes

References

Frank Lloyd Wright biography by author of "The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion"

Frank Lloyd Wright genealogy (partial)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheney, Edwin 1869 births 1942 deaths American electrical engineers People from Oak Park, Illinois People from Webster Groves, Missouri Engineers from Illinois