Biography - Thomas Edmonson
THOMAS A. EDMONDSON, a merchant of New Burnside, was born in Maury County, Tenn., September 26, 1844. His father was born in the same county July 28, 1813, and was a son of William Edmondson, a native of North Carolina, and born in 1768. Though quite young, he was a participant in the Revolutionary War, and was twice married, the father of Thomas A. being the only child by his second wife. This son was reared a farmer boy, and had but limited opportunities for securing an education, but he was in early youth converted to the Methodist faith and began preaching when he was about twenty-one years old. He was married in early manhood to Elizabeth Clendening, a daughter of Thomas Clendening and his wife, who was a Miss Woody, and was like her husband, a North Carolinian. They lived in that State some years after their marriage, but removed to Tennessee and settled on their own farm, living there until the fall of 1851, when they sold out and moved to Johnson County.
Thomas A. Edmondson was seven years old when his parents came to Illinois, at that time being one of a family of five children, whom they brought to Illinois in their own wagon drawn by a team of horses. Upon arriving in Illinois they made their home first. near Reynoldsburgh, where they lived until the breaking out of the war. They came to Illinois with but little money, and young Thomas A. was early put to hard work. He assisted in clearing up his father’s farm, which was Government land, and upon it they built a rough log house, and occupied it several years, when they built a better one of hewed logs. On August 20, 1862, Thomas A. Edmondson enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry, under Capt. Fry, and about one year afterward was transferred to Company F, Ninth Illinois Infantry, and still later to Company E, same regiment. He was but seventeen years old when he entered the army, and when he was mustered out he was Second Sergeant of his company. He was sick a few weeks and in the hospital a few days, but with these exceptions was on duty in the ranks all the time of his enlistment. He was in ninety-six engagements during this time, but was neither wounded nor taken prisoner. He was mustered out July 9, 1865, at Louisville, Ky., and returned to his father’s home immediately afterward, where he attended school two years. When about twenty-one years old he taught school for eight years, teaching successfully two terms in Texas.
On September 8, 1870, our subject married Mary E. Hall, daughter of David T. and Lydia, Ann (Housely) Hall, both whom were natives of East Tennessee. Her father was a soldier in the Mexican War and now resides in Texas. Mr. Edmondson and his wife lived in Williamson County , two years, when they removed to Texas, where Mrs. Edmondson died, leaving one son, William , M., who is now with his grandparents in Texas. Mr. Edmondson was married to Miss Mary A. Buckner, of Johnson County, who was reared in this county, and is a daughter of David M. Buckner, a farmer of the same township in which Mr. Edmondson now lives. By this last marriage our subject has five children living: David E., fifteen years old; Jeph G., ten; Charles T., eight; Harry M., six; and Marion B., four years of age. They have buried two daughters who died in infancy.
Mr. Edmonson began business as a merchant in New Burnside in 1882, with small capital, in company with his brother, James M., whose interest he bought that same year, and has since changed his business to that of a general merchant. He has built up a trade of about $12,000 per year and has served the people as Village Trustee, President of the village and as Town Clerk. He is a Master Mason, and votes with the Republicans, though he is the only one of the family that does so.
Extracted 18 Sep 2009 by Rick Girtman from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 458-459.
