In last week’s column a review of the Edgar family of this area was begun with coverage of the earlier ancestors down through John Thomas Edgar, the one who migrated to Alabama. The writing covered a brief history of his heritage, his life and his children. Today, his grandchildren and other descendants will be outlined.

John Thomas’s oldest daughter, Georgia Matilda, was married in 1844 to Elijah “Ely” Jackson Clark, son of Alston and Francis Ann (Sims) Clark. The family established residence in Dale County where Ely farmed before the war. Ely served as a private in Company A, 54th Alabama Infantry Regiment and was captured in Atlanta in 1864 and sent to and imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio. He died there that year of smallpox and was buried at the camp. Matilda was left a widow to finish rearing their children, and she never remarried. They had the following five children before Ely’s death: Mary Emeline, b. 1846, d. 1921, m. William Joshua Dubose, son of William K. and Martha Ann (Doud) Dubose; Greenberry, b. 1849, d. 1938, m. (1) Mary Ann Miller (2) Phillipina “Piney” Elizabeth Jones; James Alston, b. 1852, d. 1921, m. Amanda R. Gunter; William Henry, b. 1857, d. 1916, m. Catherine Gunter; and Antymeadie, b. 1858, d. 1878, dingle.

John Thomas’s oldest son, John William Edgar, was married in 1848 to Charity Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of David and Sarah (Allen) Stewart. John William’s family moved to Dale County circa 1850, so he was most likely married in Georgia. He and his wife lived there during the 1860s and early 1870s before migrating to South Alabama. He died in 1874 in the Town of Opp in Covington County. He was buried in the historic Hickory Grove Cemetery. Several of his children made their home in Covington County.

John William and Charity Elizabeth Edgar reared the following children: Mary Ann Elizabeth, b. 1848, d. 1912, m. Benjamin Roberts; Sarah Jane “Sadie,” b. 1851, d. 1900; William David “Dave” b. 1853, d. 1934, m. (1) 1874 Ann Holloway (2) 1890 Jessie Gay; Maria, b. 1856; Edmond D. “Edd,” b. 1856, d. 1937, m. Mary Caroline Dubose (1856-1926); Erma or Emma Jane, b. 1859, m. James Bell; John Thomas, b. 1860, d. 1938, m. Mary Jane Clark (1867-1933); James Lafayette, b. 1862, d. 1934, m. (1) 1880 Martha Elizabeth McKinney (2) Rebecca Mathis (3) Purcey Ann Rochella Hemby; Henry Thomas, b. 1865, m. 1889 Emeline Johnson; Robert, b. 1868; and Stewart T., b. 1870, d. 1950, m. Mary Frances Coon.

John William’s oldest son, William David “Dave” Edgar, and his wife, Ann (Holloway), had a son named James Lewis Edgar, b. ca 1891 and d. 1962. James L. was married to Frances Polly Watson, and they had a son named Arthur Casey Edgar (1917-1994) who married Ida Mae Knight, daughter of Dudley H. and Lealer Mae (Cobb) Knight. Arthur C. and Ida Mae had a son, Hinton Durwood Edgar, who married Martha Petty. Durwood and Martha reside in Opp where they own and operate H.D. Edgar Trucking Company. Durwood is well known from having served as Mayor of Opp from 2004 to 2012.

John William’s second son, Edmond D. “Edd” Edgar, and his wife, Mary Caroline (Dubose), reared the following children: Magnolia, b. 1881, m. Jesse Pettus; George Bascomb, b. 1883, d. 1950, m. 1905 Nellie Jacobs; Harvey Lee, b. 1886, m. Addie Simmons; Cleo, b. 1888, m. Betty Ham; Martha Missouri, b. 1892, m. Alfred Simmons; Henry Purvis, b. 1894, m. Mattie Pearl Folsom; Barney, b. 1896, m. Blondell Williams; and Hampton, d. as a child. Mattie Pearl Folsom was the daughter of Moses Frank “Doc” Folsom who was Sheriff of Coffee County at one time and an uncle to Alabama Governor Jim Folsom.

Edmond D. “Edd” Edgar’s oldest son, George Bascomb Edgar, was married in 1905 to Nellie Jacobs. They reared the following six children: Naomi, b. 1907, m. Joseph Alvin “Joe” Edgar; Clyde Lee, b. 1909, m. Otis Criswell; Lucille, b. 1912, m. Lloyd Whitaker; Erma Dell, b. 1915, m. Thomas Brady White; Marie, b. 1921, m. Berlin Dyess; and Maude, b. 1924, m. Roy McHaffey.

George Bascomb Edgar’s oldest child, Naomi Edgar was married to a distant cousin, Joseph Alvin “Joe” Edgar. They reared the following 10 children: J.L., m. Lois Smart; Beulah Mae, m. Clovis Johnson; Rolland, m. Glennie Pearl Stewart; Joanne, d. in infancy; Erma Jean, m. Charles T. Pierson; Peggy Joe, m. Stephen Koski; Billy Joe, m. Annie Ruth McWharters; Tommy, m. Betty Sue Messick; Brenda Ann, m. Don Casey; and George Ronnie “Ron,” m. Jane Riley.

Jomas’s third son, Hugh Edgar, was born in 1834 and married in 1854 to Frances Rebecca Holloway (1836-1918). They made their home in the Old Tabernacle community along Highway 51. When the War for Southern Independence was underway, he volunteered for service in the Confederate Army. He appears to be the Huey Edgar who has a record of enlisting in March 1862 at Ft. McRae, Ga., and being assigned to Company I, 33rd Alabama Infantry Regiment. There is also a Huey Edgar listed as a resident of Haw Ridge, Coffee Co., who served in Company K, 32nd and 58th Alabama Regiments.

Hugh and Frances Rebecca Edgar reared the following children: Monroe, b. 1855, d. in infancy; Mary Jane, b. 1858; Henry, b. 1861; John William “Bud,” b. 1862, d. 1924, m. 1884 Everline Bradshaw (1863-1943); Louisa, b. 1867; Matilda, b. 1868; Polly A., b. 1870; Caroline, b. 1873; James T., b. 1875; and Ellen, b. 1876. In later years the following two children were also in their household: Willie Thomas, b. 1896; and Era May, b. 1900. Both of these died at an early age.

Hugh and Frances’s fourth child, John William “Bud” Edgar, was married in 1884 to Everline Bradshaw (1863-1943). They reared the following five children: Cassie, m. Norman Pittman; Amanda “Mandy,” d. as teenager and single; James Shelley, m. Mary Belle King; Frances, d. in childhood; and Jessie Lee, m. Shellie F. Wilson.

John Thomas’s fourth son, Henry Edgar, also rendered service in the Confederate Army. He enlisted in March 1862 at Ozark and was assigned to the 33rd. Alabama Regiment. Henry returned from the war and eventually resided in Florida where he died in 1886.

This concludes a review of the Edgar family, but there is additional genealogy available from various relatives. The primary source for this writing was Ancestry.com, a family story by Martha (Clark) Brightwell in The Heritage of Covington County, Alabama, family stories by J.L. Edgar, John F. Edgar and Frankie W. Sawyer, Ph.D in The Heritage of Coffee County, Alabama, and research done by Dennis Murphy.

Anyone who might find an error in the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

 

 

HISTORICAL EVENT:

 

The Gen. Edmond Winchester Rucker Chapter 2534, U.D.C. invites anyone interested to a grave marker dedication for Confederate Real Daughter Bonnie Eva Jane (Day) Morgan. The event is planned for 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at the Pine Level Cemetery in Elba, Ala. Bonnie Eva Jane was the daughter of Confederate Veteran Henry Joel Day who served in Company B, 15th Alabama Regiment.