ELIZABETHTOWN, Ill. (Jan. 31, 1935) — Among the aged citizens of Hardin
County is Zachariah Edmondson, whose home is near Gentry's Landing, about
nine miles north of Cave-in-Rock. Mr. Edmondson was born in Martin County
Indiana March 17, 1848, and hence will be eighty-seven years of age in a
very short time. He was the son of the late Gracen and Jane Riley Edmondson.
He was the third of a family of eight children, having had five brothers and
two sisters, none of which reside in this locality.
His childhood and youth were spent with his parents in his native state. In
1868, at the age of twenty, he was married in Daviees County, Indiana, to
Sarah Elizabeth Pruett, who was the daughter of the late Thomas and Margaret
Pruett. Their early married life was spent on a farm in Indiana, but as Mr.
Edmondson had an inclination toward trapping and fishing, they soon left the
farm and commenced a different life on a house boat on the Ohio River, where
he could follow this inclination more easily. During the fourteen years
spent on the river he was also employed much of the time in working in
timber.
After seventeen years of happy married life with the first wife, who was an
excellent woman, death invaded the home, which was then at Maunie, Illinois,
and separated the couple. Mrs. Edmondson was laid to rest at that place.
To this union were born four sons and two daughters. The sons were John T.
Edmondson, who passed away at Carmi, Illinois some years ago, W. H.
Edmondson of near Cave-in-Rock, Harve Edmondson of Kuttawa, Kentucky and
Newt Edmondson of Cave-in-Rock. The daughters were Mrs. Bell Scott of
Cave-ion-Rock, who also passed away and Mrs. Julia Cochran, whose home is in
Rosiclare, Illinois. There are twenty-four grandchildren in the families of
these three sons and two daughters and thirty-four great grandchildren, many
of whom reside in Hardin County.
After the death of his wife, Mr. Edmondson left the river and moved to a
farm about one and one half miles from Dycusburg, Kentucky. He remained
there for only a year, then moved to Ford's Ferry, Kentucky where he carried
the mail for some two or three years from that place to Marion, Kentucky. In
1881 he was married to Emma Richards, but they lived together for only a
short time, when he was again left alone. From Ford's Ferry he went to
Weston, Kentucky where he engaged in the timber business for several years.
In 1883 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Butler. Mrs. Butler was the
mother of two children at this time. They are Thomas Butler of Rosiclare and
daughter who is now Mrs. Josie Yates and whose home is near Kuttawa,
Kentucky.
There were born to this union, four children, none of them living.
About the year of 1905, the couple left Weston and came to Illinois, making
their home on what is known as the Herrin farm, not far from Cave-in-Rock.
During their life at that place, Mr. Edmondson attended a revival meeting
held by an evangelist named Kennison at the old Hopkins Chapel near there.
He at that time professed faith in Christ and became a member of the M. E.
Church. They remained for several years on the Herrin farm, then moved to
what is known as the Lamb farm, also near Cave-in-Rock. At this place a
tragic event occurred. His youngest son "Little Zach" a bright little lad of
seven was instantly killed by falling timber while at play with other
children.
In 1912 the family went to Carrsville, Kentucky, where Mr. Edmondson found
employment as a carpenter and also as a shoe repairer. After a few years
they returned to Illinois, and made their home at Rosiclare, where he worked
chiefly at the cobbler's trade.
On August 6, 1930, after a pleasant married life of thirty-seven years, the
aged man was again separated by death from his companion. Since that time,
he has made his home on the farm of his son W. H. Edmondson near Gentry's
Landing. Mr. Edmondson has very good health for one of his age. While he is
not as active as in his earlier years he is still a fine shot and takes
pleasure in a good squirrel hunt. He is of a jovial and social nature and
greatly enjoys exchanging jokes with his friends and neighbors, all of whom
greatly love and respect him.
Thanks to Wanda H. Reed for contributing this article to the Hardin County
ILGenWeb site. The Hardin County Independent first published this article on
Jan. 31, 1935.
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