Edgar B. Jadwin was born in Honesdale in 1865 to Cornelius and Charlotte Wood Jadwin. He attended Lafayette College and graduated first in his class from West Point in 1890. Jadwin served with various engineer units between 1891 and 1895 and fought in the Spanish–American War.

A member of the Army Corps of Engineers, he was involved in the enlargement of Ellis Island, the building of the breakwater in San Pedro, CA and reconstruction of the jetties at Galveston. After serving as district engineer at the expanding ports of Los Angeles and Galveston, he was selected by General Goethals to assist in the construction of the Panama Canal.

In World War I he was responsible for much of the engineering work for the Allies in Europe and served as Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers from 1926 to 1929. In 1930 he became chairman of the Federal Power Commission.

In 1958 the Dyberry flood control dam near Honesdale was named in his honor: the General Edgar Jadwin Dam and Reservoir.

From the collection of the Wayne County Historical Society, 810 Main St., Honesdale. The museum and research library are open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.