I am researching
the Edwards family that is associated with the town of Edwardsville, Floyd
Co., IN. According to the book: "History of the Falls of the Ohio-Floyd
and Clark, published 1880's", it states that the land had been sold
through several people and was finally purchased in 1846 by Henry EDWARDS
for $1700. The town was platted and named for him in 1853. The book states:
"Henry Edwards was a Hoosier. His father, also named Henry, came
from Kentucky to this township among the pioneers, with a large family
of children, not many of whom are now living, and only one, William, is
now living in this vicinity."
My entire life
we have been told that it was our Edwards family that the town was named for.
I grew up in Edwardsville and often drove by where the old cabin would've once
stood. I also lived possibly 50 feet from the exact spot where my Edwards ancestors
lived, and never even knew it. My 3rd great grandfather was Harvey E. Edwards,
a cooper/joiner/carpenter, born abt 1821/1822 in IN or KY (conflicting census
answers, but I believe it was KY). Harvey Edwards is found in the 1850 Floyd
Co census living next to Henry H. Edwards. Henry H. named one of his sons Harvey
and Harvey (the elder) names his son, William Henry Edwards. This is enough
evidence for me to believe that the family stories are true. Unfortunately,
I can not find the actual connection between Harvey and Henry H. They are probably
cousins, and if so which of Henry Sr.'s children or siblings is his parent??
We know that Henry Sr. had a son named William, as stated in the above book.
According to another book about the religion in Floyd Co it states that Henry
H's home was often used by his uncle, William Edwards, a minister, to perform
marriages. So we now have both a Henry and Wm in all 3
generations. And then we have Harvey's in the next 3 generations. Fun.
As of 2011, here's where we are. I finally figured out who Harvey & Lucinda's
first child was. Clarissa Catherine Edwards. The census looks like Clarency
or Clancy, and so she has been lost in history until now. I'm thrilled to have
figured it out :) More on her later.
While finding the connection between Henry & Harvey is of the utmost importance
in my research, we have another little mystery attached to this family. What
happened to Sally?!?
Sarah Jane Mayfield, aka Sally, daughter of Sutherland & Amanda Jane, married
Wm Henry Edwards, aka Billy, son of Havey & Lucinda. In 1870 and 1880, Billy
& Sally are living very near to her parents. In 1890, no records found to
place their residence (yet). 1900, Billy is now widowed, and living with his
widowed son, Delbert. The census states they are in Edwardsville Village (although
this was later marked out for some reason). So we know that Sally died between
June of 1880 and June of 1900. In 1886, Billy applied for a civil war pension,
claiming Invalid as ailment. There is no listing in the documents I've found
regarding Sally, but I've sent of for his compiled records and am crossing my
fingers. One thought is that maybe he decided to apply because either she was
very sick, or had just died. Hoping the documents will provide answers.
As for her burial? No clue!
Some thoughts on the subject:
It states in the book, History of Indiana Conferences, by Rev. Adam
Byron Condo, that Henry H. Edwards was buried on his land at the top of the
knobs and Milltown Rd. But when the (now) State Rd. 64 was made concrete in
1934, his old home was torn down, and his body was exumerated and moved, to
be one of the first buried at (now)Tunnel Hill Cemetery (then known as Edwardsville
Cemetery). So, according to this, I'm assuming that in 1866, Henry was laid
to rest somewhere in between the edges of the road. I'm also led to believe,
that since this had been his home since at least 1846, This would be the location
of the Edwards Family Cemetery. I have no way (yet) of proving the existence
of a family cemetery, but it is one theory. As to date, we cannot find ANYONE
of those generations' graves. Except for Henry H. and his wife, Susannah, who
were dug up and moved. Being that they named the town after him, he was certainly
important enough to have been moved. But what about Harvey, who died while in
the area? Or Sallie? Or young Lafayette, who died just after the Civil War in
1867 at only 16. Where is he? Delbert's 1st wife, Emma? All of these people
died in the same general time span, but yet there are no records (so far) of
their deaths and burials. My theory is that they, too, are buried in the general
area at the top of Corydon Pike. This means they are probably lost forever.
OR
Here's where the addiction of genealogy comes in. Back in 1996ish, my husband
and I were hiking back in "The Valley". At that time I knew it was
part of the old family land, but nothing specific at all. Chris & I were
walking through and there was a beautiful area covered in vinca, and the sun
was hitting it beautifully, so we decided to stop there and rest before continuing
on our journey.
Flash forward to the present.
In spring of 2011, on a whim, I went to a genealogy meeting at the library.
That night's topic was old cemeteries and preservation. Very interesting if
you're like me and spend a lot of time in cemeteries. But anyway, he mentioned
about Vinca and how it's sometimes referred to as cemetery ivy, and that it's
not native to our area. If you wanted vinca to grow, you had to plant vinca.
Which they did, on their family cemeteries. Makes perfect sense. Weed control,
pretty flowers, and coverage all year long. Plus once it's taken root, it's
extremely hardy.
I don't know yet if that area down in the valley will give me some answers,
but I have to admit I'm insanely curious. A strange set of events led me to
that meeting, and the slap of "A ha!" was unmistakable. So this summer
of 2011, Chris and I will retrace our hike from 15 years ago, and hopefully
be able to locate that area again. It was 16 years ago. I can't even say for
sure it was vinca. But my gut is telling me that if I want to find answers,
I should probably go hiking. I looked at a few old land maps and while I don't
have the technical calculations for everything, it appears that the land definitely
belonged to the Edwards. Wish me Luck, and I'll keep you posted!
Henry Sr is found in Floyd
Co in 1830 with the following information:
40-50 years (1780-1790) (Henry Sr.)
1 F 30-40 (1790-1800)
1 M 15-20 (1810-1815) (Henry H.)
1 F under 5 (1825-1830)
Henry Sr is found
in Floyd Co in 1840 with the following information:
50-60 years (1780-1790)
1 F 40-50 (1790-1800)
1 F 5-10 (1830-1835)
1 F 5-10 (1830-1835)
1 F 5-10 (1830-1835)
1 M under 5 (1835-1840)
1 M under 5 (1835-1840)
1 M 5-10 (1825-1830)
Henry Sr. was not on the 1850 Floyd Co. census. We are
not sure yet if he moved on or passed on at the age of 60-70.
There is a Henry living in Crawford Co, that fits the right age,
have not looked into him further yet.
There were atleast 3
main lines of Edwards in Floyd County in the early 1800's. I know
we fit in somewhere, so if you have an idea, please let me know. I am in
the process of organizing and posting other information that I have on
these lines, ...I have recieved a lot of mail pertaining to this family
and since I can't use it, I hope some one else can. Please check back to
see what's new. As always, if you would like to post your information at
this site or have you e-mail posted so that others may contact you, please
let me know.
Information
about Edwardsville
Some
of David Edwards' Line
Information/Data
pertaining to my Edwards line.
There are also photos on my
Mystery
Page that I believe to be Edwards'
**indicates I have photos.
1. William Edwards
1. Henry EDWARDS,
Sr. b: circa 1780-1790 d: circa/before 1850?
+(1790-1800)
2. F 5-10 (1830-1835)
2. F 5-10 (1830-1835)
2. F 5-10 (1830-1835)
2. M under 5 (1835-1840)
2. M under 5 (1835-1840)
2. M 5-10 (1825-1830)
2. Henry Edwards Jr. b: 7-8-1814 d: 1-24-1866 in Floyd Co.,
IN
+ Susannah F. Hunter b: 4-8-1815 in VA d: 11-14-1890
in Floyd Co., IN m: 3-1-1835 in IN
3. Robert Edwards b: 1836 d: IN
3. Mary E. Edwards b: 1843 in IN d:
3. Julia Ann Edwards b: 1846
3.
Harvey Edwards b: 1849 in IN
d:
m:
3-18-1869 in Floyd County by Wm Edwards, Minister.
+ Sarah Lee Tyler b: 1847 in IN d:
4. Rosa Edwards b: 1872 in IN
4. Emma Edwards b: 1876 in IN
4. Ida May Edwards b: Jan 1870 in IN
Either a son, or grandson of Henry Edwards Sr.
2.
Harvey E. Edwards b: 1822 in IN/KY
d:
m: 6-21-1838 in Harrison Co., IN
+
Lucinda A. Duggins
b: 1823 in IN d: (daughter of Reuben
Duggins
and Margaret Dieterick)
**3. Clarissa Edwards b: 1840 in IN (Married Slythe)
3. Reuben Edwards b: Feb 1843 in IN
+ Nancy Greenwood b: Jan 1850 in IN
4. Harvey Edwards b: Sept 1879 in IN
4. Ada E. Edwards b: Dec 1881 in IN
+ Joe Ferguson b:
5. Edward Ferguson
+ Proster
5. Fred Ferguson
+ Fern Satterfield
5. Lillian Ferguson d: at age 16 buried at Milltown Cemetery
in the family plot.
**3. Lafayette
Franklin Edwards b: Jan 1850 d: Oct 1867 just a year after joining
the infantry, lying about his age at 16.
**3.
William Henry Edwards aka Billy b: 1841 in
IN d: in Crawford Co., IN m: 7-2-1865
in Floyd Co., IN
**+
Sarah Jane Mayfield
aka Sally b: 1847 in IN d: bet Jun 1880-Jun 1900
*4. Mary Jane (Mollie) Edwards b:
June 1877 in IN d: 12-10-1942 in IN
** + James D. Keithley
b: 10-17-1875 in IN d: 1964 in IN m: 3-4-1900 in Floyd Co.,
IN
**4. Margaret (Millie) Edwards b: 1879 d: 1918
m: 12-11-1900 in Floyd Co., IN
+ Charles E. Schaefer
4. William (Willy) Edwards b: 1876 in IN
**4. Lafayette Franklin Edwards b: June 1868 in IN d:1942
m: 1803
** + Sadie Mosier b: 1880 in VA d: 1958 in IN
5. Sarah Jane(Sallie) Edwards b: 1905 in IN
+ James Miller
6. Arenetta Miller (maybe old photos)
+ John Brown
7. John
7. Jimmy
5. William Franklin Edwards b: 1907 in IN
+ Hettie Sutton b: 2-25-1910 IN
6. Maxwell R. Edwards b: 1-27-1934 in IN d: 2-27-1998 in KY
+ Judy Voyles
6. Joseph Edwards b: d: bef 1998
6. Renee Edwards b: d: bef 1998
+ ? Livingston
6. Richard Edwards
b:
+ Alice Ann Davidson
7. William
7. Richard N.
7. Patrice L.
+ ? Brown
6. Lonnie Edwards
6. Charles Franklin Edwards b: d: 6-3-00
6. Larry Edwards
6. Emmajean Ewards
6. Phyllis Edwards
+ Roy F. Bary
6. Regina Edwards
+ ? Karsner
6. Sheila Ewards
+ ? Young
5. Nicholas N. Edwards b: 1909 in IN d: March 1926
5. Mary Magdeline Edwards b: 1913 in IN
+ Walter Newkirts
5. Jessie J. Edwards b: 3-29-1915 in IN d: 2-16-1996
+ Ruth Walker b: 1922
6. Sonnie Edwards
+ Mary
6. Jessie Joan Edwards
<<1st>> + James William Allen
<<2nd>> ? Wagner
6. Sharon Lea Edwards
+ Lee Pease
7. Cynthia
7. Paul
7. Larry
7. Nancy
7. Susie
7. Lori Ann
6. Carlotta Francis Edwards
+ Charles Attwood
7. Connie F.
7. Charles
7. ?
6. Nettie Lou Edwards
+ Forrest Stump
7. Shelly Kay
7. Evalee
6. Wade Ray Edwards
+ Vicki Briscoe
6. David Edwards
5. Doris Lucille Ewards b: 8-18-1921 d:
+ "Red" Carnes
6. Saundra
6. Den??????? Lynn
+ Martin Coffman
7. Christopher
5. Harry H. Edwards b: 1919 in IN
<<first wife>>
+ Clara Stevens
6. Charlie
6. Carl
6. Wayne Robert
+ Betty
7. Loy
7. Wayne
7. Brenda
<<second wife>>
+ Ruby Pulsins
7. Betty
7. Carolyn
7. Linda
7. Roxanne
7. Wanda Gail
7. Donnie
**4. Delbert E. Edwards b: Jan 1870 in IN d:
<<first wife>>
+ Emma Ancelot
5. Alfred Edwards b: Nov 1891 in IN
5. Raymond Edwards b: Nov 1892 in IN
5. Estella Edwards b: 9-11-1895 in IN m: 6-11-1917 in IN
+ Jess Peers
5. Walter Edwards b: Nov1896 in IN
<<second wife>>
+ Cordelia G. b: 1868 in IN
5. Hazel Edwards b: 1903 in IN
5. Ethel Edwards b: 1904 in IN
5. Cecil Key b: 1879 in IN ( Not Delbert's son)
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Last update: January 2, 2001
