A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
NameMercy Ann Edson 
55
55Birth30 Jan 1829, Crawford Co, Indiana11
Death17 Mar 1914, Amoret, Bates Co, Missouri11 Age: 85
BurialState Line Cemetery, Trading Post, Linn Co, Kansas403
FatherDaniel Thomas Edson (1802-1875)
MotherRachel Ann Needham (1806-1888)
Spouses
Marriage30 May 1849, Illinois11
Marriage11 Nov 1869, Harrison Co, Missouri11
ChildrenWilliam Grant (1870-1953)
Notes for Mercy Ann Edson
MERCY ANN EDSON, third child and first daughter of Daniel and Rachel Ann (Needham) Edson
Mercy Ann Edson was only a few weeks old when her parents immigrated to Coles County, Illinois. There in a wilderness previously inhabited only by Indians, this pioneer child witnessed the beginning of civilization in that far west outpost.
Each year the tide of immigrants in their covered wagons that passed along the trail before the Edson home increased. They passed along the trail that years later would be the well marked "Lincoln Heritage Trail". Numerous shy curious pioneer children peeked at little Mercy Ann from behind the canvas tops as the wagons rolled by the Edson home. These children too would grow up in a wilderness, marry, and carry on the work of their parents in the opening of the West and the building of a nation.
Mercy Ann was known from early girlhood for her loving kindness to all and for her many good deeds.
She was being courted by Isaac Smith at the time of the gold strike in California. Several of his relatives were leaving for California with the group that organized at the Edson general store in the Muddy Point Settlement. Mercy Ann's brother, Alonzo Edson, was going with the group. (See sketch on Alonzo Smith Edson.) Isaac Smith had made plans to go with the 49'ers, but cupid interfered. A few days before the 49'ers were to pullout for California, he told Mercy Ann's parents he was canceling his trip to the gold fields of California and that he and Mercy Ann wished to set their wedding date. They were married by Rev. William E. Smith.
Mercy Ann and her big handsome husband, Isaac Smith, immigrated to Harrison County, Missouri, with her parents. They settled on a homestead a short distance west of Daniel Edson's homestead. The house faced the south and eventually a trail passed the two homesteads.
When the Civil War started Isaac Smith enlisted September 1, 1862, at Bethany, Missouri, in Co. B, Reg't. 2, Missouri Cavalry, Merrill' Horse. He was mustered in at Sturgeon, Missouri, October 31, 1862. His Captain was Henry K. Bennett. Isaac Smith died just four months before his discharge date of acute diarrhea and starvation.
February 7, 1870, Alonzo Smith Edson was duly appointed guardian of the persons and curator of the estate of Daniel T. and Levi Smith, minor heirs of Isaac H. Smith, deceased, and gave bond in the sum of one thousand dollars in the Probate Court of Bethany, Missouri.
Mercy Ann wanted a picket fence build around her yard and the confirmed bachelor, James Miller, who was living in the Matkins area with his brother, Robert, was recommended by persons in Bethany to do the job. James Miller called on the widow about building the fence, but instead a romance blossomed, and they were soon married at her residence in Jefferson Township, Harrison County, Missouri, by Rev. Alford N. Cave. Mercy Ann never did get the fence. She was teased about this for years.
James Miller in his youth lived in Virginia, just over the state line from Belmont County, Ohio, with a married sister. He had one brother, Robert, and three sisters. One morning James left the cabin as usual with his father's old musket over his shoulder. His sister assumed he was going hunting. Seven years later he came walking in with the old musket over his shoulder --- just as he had left seven years before. He had been working on the boats on the Mississippi and Hy rivers. In the meantime his brother, Robert, had settled in Missouri. Before long James set out afoot to join Robert.
James Miller had served, before his marriage to Mercy Ann, in the Union Army as a private in Co. E, 61st Reg't., Illinois infantry, Volunteers, commanded by Capt. Charles McDougal and Henry Maning. He enlisted November 6, 1861. He fought at Shiloh under Gen. Grant. James Miller was captured and held a prisoner of war for one year at Andersonville (Ga.) and in Florida. At the time of enlistment he was five feet, eight inches, complexion dark, hair dark, and his eyes were blue.
Mercy Ann and James Miller immigrated to Rooks County, Kansas, in 1876, and settled first on land near the homestead of Billie Groom.
Mercy Ann's mother, Rachel Edson, of Harrison County, Missouri, was visiting her in 1887 when little Curtis Groom, Rachel's great grandson was born. Mercy Ann and her mother went to see the new baby. Rachel rode on a horse with Mercy Ann walking along beside the horse and a little colt following, exploring the country side as the horse plodded along.
Mercy Ann's children attended school in the Edson log school house while the family was living in Missouri. In Kansas they attended school in a soddy.
Mercy Ann lived in Rooks County 1877, Sheridan County 1890, near Halstead, 1892, Elk County, and in Sedgwick County 1896.
During these years in Kansas, Mercy Ann was homesick for Harrison County, Missouri, and her relatives and her many friends there. Tears of disappointment came to her eyes on days when no letter came. Her letters tied with ribbons were preserved among her keepsakes.
Following the death of her husband, Mercy Ann and her son, Alonzo Smith, moved back to Harrison County in the early fall of 1890 and settled on a farm in Lincoln Township. She missed her children who had remained in Kansas. Therefore, she soon returned to Kansas. In 1906 she moved to Amoret, Missouri.
Mercy Ann's sons took part in the Cherokee Strp land run in 1893. 171
Mercy Ann Edson was only a few weeks old when her parents immigrated to Coles County, Illinois. There in a wilderness previously inhabited only by Indians, this pioneer child witnessed the beginning of civilization in that far west outpost.
Each year the tide of immigrants in their covered wagons that passed along the trail before the Edson home increased. They passed along the trail that years later would be the well marked "Lincoln Heritage Trail". Numerous shy curious pioneer children peeked at little Mercy Ann from behind the canvas tops as the wagons rolled by the Edson home. These children too would grow up in a wilderness, marry, and carry on the work of their parents in the opening of the West and the building of a nation.
Mercy Ann was known from early girlhood for her loving kindness to all and for her many good deeds.
She was being courted by Isaac Smith at the time of the gold strike in California. Several of his relatives were leaving for California with the group that organized at the Edson general store in the Muddy Point Settlement. Mercy Ann's brother, Alonzo Edson, was going with the group. (See sketch on Alonzo Smith Edson.) Isaac Smith had made plans to go with the 49'ers, but cupid interfered. A few days before the 49'ers were to pullout for California, he told Mercy Ann's parents he was canceling his trip to the gold fields of California and that he and Mercy Ann wished to set their wedding date. They were married by Rev. William E. Smith.
Mercy Ann and her big handsome husband, Isaac Smith, immigrated to Harrison County, Missouri, with her parents. They settled on a homestead a short distance west of Daniel Edson's homestead. The house faced the south and eventually a trail passed the two homesteads.
When the Civil War started Isaac Smith enlisted September 1, 1862, at Bethany, Missouri, in Co. B, Reg't. 2, Missouri Cavalry, Merrill' Horse. He was mustered in at Sturgeon, Missouri, October 31, 1862. His Captain was Henry K. Bennett. Isaac Smith died just four months before his discharge date of acute diarrhea and starvation.
February 7, 1870, Alonzo Smith Edson was duly appointed guardian of the persons and curator of the estate of Daniel T. and Levi Smith, minor heirs of Isaac H. Smith, deceased, and gave bond in the sum of one thousand dollars in the Probate Court of Bethany, Missouri.
Mercy Ann wanted a picket fence build around her yard and the confirmed bachelor, James Miller, who was living in the Matkins area with his brother, Robert, was recommended by persons in Bethany to do the job. James Miller called on the widow about building the fence, but instead a romance blossomed, and they were soon married at her residence in Jefferson Township, Harrison County, Missouri, by Rev. Alford N. Cave. Mercy Ann never did get the fence. She was teased about this for years.
James Miller in his youth lived in Virginia, just over the state line from Belmont County, Ohio, with a married sister. He had one brother, Robert, and three sisters. One morning James left the cabin as usual with his father's old musket over his shoulder. His sister assumed he was going hunting. Seven years later he came walking in with the old musket over his shoulder --- just as he had left seven years before. He had been working on the boats on the Mississippi and Hy rivers. In the meantime his brother, Robert, had settled in Missouri. Before long James set out afoot to join Robert.
James Miller had served, before his marriage to Mercy Ann, in the Union Army as a private in Co. E, 61st Reg't., Illinois infantry, Volunteers, commanded by Capt. Charles McDougal and Henry Maning. He enlisted November 6, 1861. He fought at Shiloh under Gen. Grant. James Miller was captured and held a prisoner of war for one year at Andersonville (Ga.) and in Florida. At the time of enlistment he was five feet, eight inches, complexion dark, hair dark, and his eyes were blue.
Mercy Ann and James Miller immigrated to Rooks County, Kansas, in 1876, and settled first on land near the homestead of Billie Groom.
Mercy Ann's mother, Rachel Edson, of Harrison County, Missouri, was visiting her in 1887 when little Curtis Groom, Rachel's great grandson was born. Mercy Ann and her mother went to see the new baby. Rachel rode on a horse with Mercy Ann walking along beside the horse and a little colt following, exploring the country side as the horse plodded along.
Mercy Ann's children attended school in the Edson log school house while the family was living in Missouri. In Kansas they attended school in a soddy.
Mercy Ann lived in Rooks County 1877, Sheridan County 1890, near Halstead, 1892, Elk County, and in Sedgwick County 1896.
During these years in Kansas, Mercy Ann was homesick for Harrison County, Missouri, and her relatives and her many friends there. Tears of disappointment came to her eyes on days when no letter came. Her letters tied with ribbons were preserved among her keepsakes.
Following the death of her husband, Mercy Ann and her son, Alonzo Smith, moved back to Harrison County in the early fall of 1890 and settled on a farm in Lincoln Township. She missed her children who had remained in Kansas. Therefore, she soon returned to Kansas. In 1906 she moved to Amoret, Missouri.
Mercy Ann's sons took part in the Cherokee Strp land run in 1893. 171
Notes for Mercy Ann Edson
Mercy Ann Edson was the daughter of Daniel Edson and Rachel Needham. She married Isaac Hiram Smith 30 May 1849 in Illinois. They had 4 children: Alonzo Edson Smith, Daniel Thomas Smith, Levi Smith and Felix Smith. Isaac died 29 June 1865 in Chattanooga, TN in the Civil War. He is buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Mercy married James Miller on 11 Nov. 1869 in Harrison Co., MO. They had a son William Grant Miller.11