A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
NameSarah Ann Edson 
55
55Birth12 Apr 1848, Muddy Point, Coles Co, Illinois13
Death25 Mar 1936, Bethany, Harrison Co, Missouri13 Age: 87
BurialMorris Chapel Cemetery, Bethany, Harrison Co, Missouri11
FatherDaniel Thomas Edson (1802-1875)
MotherRachel Ann Needham (1806-1888)
Spouses
ChildrenDaniel Thomas (1867-1953)
Rachel Elizabeth “Susan” (1869-1964)
Mary Rosenna (1871-1888)
William Asbury (1878-1879)
Mabel Olive (1881-1946)
Dorsey Wesley (1883-1955)
Oda Ethel (1889-1951)
Notes for Sarah Ann Edson
SARAH ANN EDSON, twel!h child and sixth girl of Daniel and Rachel Ann
Sarah Ann Edson, the baby of the family, was eight years of age when the family immigrated by covered wagon to Missouri. She was fourteen when the Civil War started and shared the hardships of the frontier pioneers during those tragic years. She united with the Methodist Church during the days when church services were being held at the Edson schoolhouse (1876). Following her marriage, Sarah and her husband, known as Frank, made their home with her parents. Her father's health began to fail and gradually Frank Shumard took over the farming operation of Daniel Edson's fine farm - one of the finest farms in the country. Then on April 3, 1875, Daniel Edson died. Sometime later Frank desired to immigrate to Kansas. The old Edson homestead was sold and Daniel Edson's widow moved to the home of her son, Alonzo Smith Edson. Frank and Sarah tried to put roots down in Kansas, but due to crop failures time after time in that arid savage country, returned several times to Harrison County to accumulate a new stake. In 1890 they were living on a farm near Halstead, Kansas. Frank had served, before their marriage, in the Union Army. He enlisted August 8, 1862, Co. E, 23rd Reg't., Mo. Inf. Vol., commanded by Capt. W. R. Sims. Company E was consolidated afterwards with Co. A of the same regiment. He was discharged near Washington D. C. on June 10, 1865. In the fall of 1862, he was treated at Macon, Missouri, for lung fever. He had blue eyes, and at the time of enlistment was five feet, seven inches, complexion dark, and had dark hair.
As told by Lillie Edson Miller. Source: (Daniel Edson Story by Opal Soetart)
Sarah Ann Edson, the baby of the family, was eight years of age when the family immigrated by covered wagon to Missouri. She was fourteen when the Civil War started and shared the hardships of the frontier pioneers during those tragic years. She united with the Methodist Church during the days when church services were being held at the Edson schoolhouse (1876). Following her marriage, Sarah and her husband, known as Frank, made their home with her parents. Her father's health began to fail and gradually Frank Shumard took over the farming operation of Daniel Edson's fine farm - one of the finest farms in the country. Then on April 3, 1875, Daniel Edson died. Sometime later Frank desired to immigrate to Kansas. The old Edson homestead was sold and Daniel Edson's widow moved to the home of her son, Alonzo Smith Edson. Frank and Sarah tried to put roots down in Kansas, but due to crop failures time after time in that arid savage country, returned several times to Harrison County to accumulate a new stake. In 1890 they were living on a farm near Halstead, Kansas. Frank had served, before their marriage, in the Union Army. He enlisted August 8, 1862, Co. E, 23rd Reg't., Mo. Inf. Vol., commanded by Capt. W. R. Sims. Company E was consolidated afterwards with Co. A of the same regiment. He was discharged near Washington D. C. on June 10, 1865. In the fall of 1862, he was treated at Macon, Missouri, for lung fever. He had blue eyes, and at the time of enlistment was five feet, seven inches, complexion dark, and had dark hair.
As told by Lillie Edson Miller. Source: (Daniel Edson Story by Opal Soetart)
Notes for Sarah Ann Edson
A VACATION BY COVERED WAGON
Sarah Edson Shumard accompanied by her three youngest children, Dorce, Mabel and Oda, and three nieces (children of her brother Levi Edson) Lillie, Minta and Laura, went to Rooks County, Kansas, in the fall of 1898, by covered wagon to
visit relatives.
The trip was a very unpleasant experience. It rained on them most of the way and the mud became deep. They made camp at night by pitching a tent by the side of the wagon and tying the horses to the back of the wagon.
They cooked on a fire built of cow chips. Several nights it rained in torrents and all of them had to stay in the wagon. It was so crowded no one could sleep. One night there was a severe electrical storm and a high wind. They were very alarmed about the danger of the horses being struck by lightning. With each gust of wind the covered wagon rocked to and fro. They expected it to turn over any moment.
One night during the wee hours, three drunk horsemen came to their camp. One of them struck the side of the tent with a club and Sarah received a blow on the head. She screamed, "Dorce get the gun!" Of course, they did not know that Dorce was just a boy! It had its effect anyway, for the drunks wheeled their horses and were far down the trail by the time the campers were on their feet. After the travelers reached Rooks County the men folks had Dorce try to shoot the gun. They did not think he could, but he did, although it knocked him flat.
Some of the settlers along the way were very kind to them. One family invited them into their home for the night so they could get one night of sleep in a bed. Their supplies were nearly exhausted when another family invited them to stay the day so as to bake some bread. Due to the rains, many days they could not build a fire and cook. They ate cold meals at these times, which consisted mostly of bread with butter and jam. The butter was bought at a sod house along the trail. Then, there were the settlers along the way who were surly when asked for a bucket of drinking water.
It was Dorce's duty at camping time to unhitch the team and water it. Sarah warned him never to water the horses until she inspected the water. There was "gip" water in the West, which was poison to man and beast. One evening while making camp Sarah was distracted momentarily before she inspected the water hole, and looked up to see the horses drinking. Alarmed, she screamed and ran for the horses. That was the one and only time they saw "gip" water on the entire trip! One horse had not drunk much of the water, but the other had, and it became very sick. They continued on their way slowly. The sick horse could hardly walk and it's head hung almost to the ground. Consequently they were days overdue in reaching Rooks County. Alarmed, Billy Groom, Sarah's son-in-law, saddled a horse and went in search of them.
On the second day he met them. He put the saddle horse in the harness and the sick horse was tied to the rear of the wagon. The men in Rooks County did what they could for the sick horse. It made the trip back to Missouri, but died shortly afterwards.
They visited in Rooks County several weeks. Mrs. Isaac Edson (Maggie) and her son, Harry, were going to Missouri for a visit. Part of Sarah's group waited and made the return trip with them.
On the return trip, Sarah and her party reached the St. Joseph, Missouri area during a heavy snowstorm. That night they slept in a barn. Was this the beginning of the motel business? It was a nice room in the corner of the barn, and was equipped with a heating stove and a supply of cobs. There was plenty of straw on the floor where they could spread their blankets, and a wash stand with a bucket of water. This was real luxury.
As told by Lillie Edson Miller Source: (Daniel Edson Story by Opal Soetart)
Sarah Edson Shumard accompanied by her three youngest children, Dorce, Mabel and Oda, and three nieces (children of her brother Levi Edson) Lillie, Minta and Laura, went to Rooks County, Kansas, in the fall of 1898, by covered wagon to
visit relatives.
The trip was a very unpleasant experience. It rained on them most of the way and the mud became deep. They made camp at night by pitching a tent by the side of the wagon and tying the horses to the back of the wagon.
They cooked on a fire built of cow chips. Several nights it rained in torrents and all of them had to stay in the wagon. It was so crowded no one could sleep. One night there was a severe electrical storm and a high wind. They were very alarmed about the danger of the horses being struck by lightning. With each gust of wind the covered wagon rocked to and fro. They expected it to turn over any moment.
One night during the wee hours, three drunk horsemen came to their camp. One of them struck the side of the tent with a club and Sarah received a blow on the head. She screamed, "Dorce get the gun!" Of course, they did not know that Dorce was just a boy! It had its effect anyway, for the drunks wheeled their horses and were far down the trail by the time the campers were on their feet. After the travelers reached Rooks County the men folks had Dorce try to shoot the gun. They did not think he could, but he did, although it knocked him flat.
Some of the settlers along the way were very kind to them. One family invited them into their home for the night so they could get one night of sleep in a bed. Their supplies were nearly exhausted when another family invited them to stay the day so as to bake some bread. Due to the rains, many days they could not build a fire and cook. They ate cold meals at these times, which consisted mostly of bread with butter and jam. The butter was bought at a sod house along the trail. Then, there were the settlers along the way who were surly when asked for a bucket of drinking water.
It was Dorce's duty at camping time to unhitch the team and water it. Sarah warned him never to water the horses until she inspected the water. There was "gip" water in the West, which was poison to man and beast. One evening while making camp Sarah was distracted momentarily before she inspected the water hole, and looked up to see the horses drinking. Alarmed, she screamed and ran for the horses. That was the one and only time they saw "gip" water on the entire trip! One horse had not drunk much of the water, but the other had, and it became very sick. They continued on their way slowly. The sick horse could hardly walk and it's head hung almost to the ground. Consequently they were days overdue in reaching Rooks County. Alarmed, Billy Groom, Sarah's son-in-law, saddled a horse and went in search of them.
On the second day he met them. He put the saddle horse in the harness and the sick horse was tied to the rear of the wagon. The men in Rooks County did what they could for the sick horse. It made the trip back to Missouri, but died shortly afterwards.
They visited in Rooks County several weeks. Mrs. Isaac Edson (Maggie) and her son, Harry, were going to Missouri for a visit. Part of Sarah's group waited and made the return trip with them.
On the return trip, Sarah and her party reached the St. Joseph, Missouri area during a heavy snowstorm. That night they slept in a barn. Was this the beginning of the motel business? It was a nice room in the corner of the barn, and was equipped with a heating stove and a supply of cobs. There was plenty of straw on the floor where they could spread their blankets, and a wash stand with a bucket of water. This was real luxury.
As told by Lillie Edson Miller Source: (Daniel Edson Story by Opal Soetart)