Thomas Jefferson Edwards (1834-1880)

"A ceremony was held at the grave of T. J. EDWARDS (1834-1880) at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery at Big Fork Saturday, June 22 <1991>. The ceremony commemorated the replacement of the original headstone, an irregularly shaped slab of native slate with an almost-illegible inscription that had marked the grave for 111 years, with a granite marker provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans's Affairs.

Mr. Edwards was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War.

Dean JONES, 31, of Eureka Springs, a great-great-great grandson of Mr. Edwards, obtained the new stone .

During remarks made at the gravesite, Mr. Jones said that a readable monument to his ancestor would "provide a link between the past, present, and future and would remind us of our debt to those who first brought Western civilization to this area and prepared the way for us."

The ceremony's guest book rested on an antique table made by Bev Edwards, 90, of Mena, a grandson of T. J. Edwards, Senior. Also on the table were a bouquet or red, white and blue flowers and several old family photographs.

These items were provided by Gracie Fountain of Little Rock, a great-great granddaughter of Mr. Edwards.

Ms. Fountain read a poem about Big Fork that was written in 1905 by Steven Bates, an ancestor of everyone present.

Othae Davis, of Mena, read a poem, "If", by Mabel Baker.

"If we could see our ancestors, what would we think of them, and if they could meet us, what would they think of us?", the poem read.

Edward FOUNTAIN, 70, of Big Fork and Oklahoma City, read an item from the Mena Star dated February 20, 1930, about the caravan in which T. J. Edwards senior and his parents travelled from Georgia to the Big Fork area in 1852. The article described the hardships endured by those who made the two-month trek in winter through the roadless wilderness.

In addition to those who spoke at the ceremony were Dr. and Mrs. David FRIED, Ben FRIED, Iva Mae Sikes, Virginia Sikes Busch, Neaumatta Fountain and Gary L. Davis.

Everyone present was a descendant of T. J. Edwards. "As we celebrate the birthday of our beloved America," said Othae Davis, "We should remember those who have come before us and help to preserve our past, so that generations to come will be aware of their heritage and may contemplate it with gratitude and pride."

Family of Thomas Jefferson Edwards & Mary Bates

EDWARDS, Thomas Jefferson - born 16 Mar 1834 - died 19 May 1880 - bur Pleasant Grove Cem.
. . . . . . . . . . .married - 5 Oct 1852
BATES, Mary Elizabeth (Mary Ann Emma BATES) - b. 20 Apr 1836 Cherokee Co GA - d. 8 Apr 1902
. . . . . . . . . .(daughter of William Fleming BATES and Mary A. (Polly) WHISENANT/WHISNAND

Children:

EDWARDS, George Addison - b. 22 Sep 1853 - d. 24 Dec 1926/28 - bur Pleasant Grove Cem, Big Fork , AR
. . . . . . . . . .Married 1879 - CHAMBERS, Susan

EDWARDS, Matilda - b. 5 Jan 1855, d. 1860

EDWARDS, Charles Perry - b. 14 Aug 1856 (click here for more information)

EDWARDS, James Harrison - b. 23 Feb 1858 (click here for more information)

EDWARDS, Nancy Armanda ("Nance") b. 22 Jan 1859, d. 1938
. . . . . . . . . .Married 1899 - LILLY, William "Rube"

EDWARDS, Thomas Jefferson
. . . . . . . . . .(click here for more information)

EDWARDS, Sarah Elizabeth ("Eliza") - b. 22 Aug 1865
. . . . . . . . . .Married HEATH, John Washington 22 Sep 1882

EDWARDS, John Wesley - b. 1 Mar 1867 - d. 5 Jul 1957 - buried Pleasant Grove, Big Fork, AR
. . . . . . . . . .Married CHAMBERS, Susan

EDWARDS, Marion Calvin - b. 29 Dec 1868/69

EDWARDS, Margaret Loucrecia - 10 Sep 1870

EDWARDS, William Newton (Newt) - b. 10 May 1872

EDWARDS. Stephen Alford - 3 Oct 1877 - d. 1958 - bur Pleasant Grove Cemetery
. . . . . . . . . .Married HEATH, Tennessee in 1900 - she was born 1882 - died 1957

EDWARDS, Rachel Malinda (Lindy) - b. 24 Jan 1879

1880 Federal Census - Big Fork Township - Polk Co. Arkansas, Page 16, Dwelling #12

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