Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 404; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Charles Bryant Edmonson is a fine representative of the
veterans of the late war who did such valuable service in defense of
the Union. He is the oldest settler now living in Deerfield Township,
with whose agricultural interests he is connected, and he is held in
genuine respect by the entire community.
Our subject is a son of one of the earliest pioneers of this
county, John S. Edmonson, who was born in North Carolina, November 1,
1800. He married Feredic Lackey, who was born in South Carolina,
February 8, 1808. They came to Fulton County in 1830, being among the
first settlers of Bernadotte Township, then moved to Smithfield, this
county, where they stayed about two years. They then moved to Deerfield
Township, and for many years were active in its pioneer labors, having
their home on section 2. In 1864 they took up their residence in Walnut
Grove, McDonough County, and from there went to Good Hope, in the same
county, where the father died August 12, 1887, at a ripe old age. The
mother of our subject is still living.
He of whom we write is the oldest son of thirteen children, and
he was born in Jackson County, Ala., November 29, 1827. In the month of
March, 1848, he started out in life for himself, and the ensuing two
years was engaged in learning the trade of a blacksmith with John
Shuver at Lewistown. At the expiration of that time, having acquired a
thorough mastery of his calling, he did journey work for eight months
at Knoxville. Returning to his old home he opened a smithy of his own
on section 2, Deerfield Township, and was actively engaged as a
blacksmith till 1862.
In that year Mr. Edmonson laid aside all personal considerations
to take part in the war. He enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and
Third Illinois Infantry, and was with his regiment until January 1864.
He was then transferred to the reserve corps and continued with it
until June 29, 1865, when he was honorably discharged from the army,
having faithfully performed his duties as a brave, patriotic and
efficient soldier, whether in camp or on the field of battle.
After he left the army, our subject returned to a farm of his
own on section 3, Deerfield Township, and for two years carried on his
trade while managing his farm. He added forty acres to his homestead,
the latter purchase being located on section 10, where he now resides.
He kept house for himself from the time he returned from the South,
till by his marriage, June 5, 1870, with Rebecca Dykeman, he secured
the valuable assistance of one who knows well how to manage household
affairs and has looked carefully after his comfort ever since. Mrs.
Edmonson was born June 15, 1851, in Deerfield Township, and she is a
daughter of Richard and Sarah (Leeper) Dykeman, natives respectively of
Indiana and Ohio. The fruit of her marriage with our subject is four
children Charles F., Minnie E., John A., and Frank M.
Our subject has a fine farm of one hundred and fifteen acres of
which seventy-five acres are under good cultivation. It is well-stocked
with cattle, horses and hogs of good grades, as our subject engages in
general farming, and the buildings are neat and well arranged.
At one time, our subject took considerable interest in politics
and was active in such matters, and he still votes with the Republican
party. He is interested in the welfare of the township which has been
his home for so many years, and for two years he did good service as
Road Commissioner. He is a man of high religious character, and in him
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church finds one of its most useful
members, and he takes part in the Union Sunday-School near by.
