The "Family" Cemetery

While we do not have a real family cemetery, I've always kind of thought of County Line Cemetery as a "family" cemetery. Situated next to County Line Baptist Church, it is located on the county line between Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois, and is sometimes known as Zion Grove Cemetery.

The church was founded in 1867, and the first burials at the cemetery were around 1870. They continue to this day. When I was younger, I would always go to southern Illinois (from Chicago) with my grandmother to visit and put flowers on the graves. I didn't pay too much attention at the time, and now I wish I had. I suspect my grandmother could have told me many stories about people who were buried there. 

Both my grandmother and her husband are buried there. I always thought it was odd that my grandmother's name was engraved on the stone - long before she died. It was something I didn't understand as a child. The monument is more elaborate than I expected from my grandmother. She was always a plain, practical woman, but she obviously splurged when setting up the grave marker for my grandfather. 

Looking through the names of graves listed on Find a Grave (587 of them, which is likely most of the graves), I recognize name after name — either as a relative, a collateral relative who married into the family, or friends and neighbors of the family. These include:

• Armes
• Beasley (by marriage)
• Blades (neighbors)
• Cardwell (by marriage)
• Davenport (by marriage)
• Edwards (including uncles, aunts, cousins, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, 3rd and 4th great-grandparents, etc.)
• Finney (by marriage)
• Fletcher (by marriage and neighbors)
• Jordan (by marriage)
• King (by marriage)
• Parker (by marriage)
• Plaster
• Pritchard (neighbors)
• Rains (cousins, uncles, aunts, and some great-grandparents, etc.)
• Rotramel (by marriage and neighbors)
• Smith (by marriage)
• Striplin (by marriage)
• Summers (by marriage)

These names were selected through a brief review of the burials posted on Find a Grave. But I suspect that more than half of the people buried there have some kind of relationship to my family. And that's why I've always considered it the family cemetery. 

This week's #52Ancestors prompt is Cemetery.

The Edwards Siblings and their Marriages!!!

 

This blog post was originally written ten years ago and I refreshed it for the #52Weeks Blog Challenge Prompt - Siblings.

My 3rd great grandfather HUGH H. EDWARDS was born in Kentucky in 1821 and married in Simpson County, Kentucky about 1848 to MARY HILTON. They are listed in the 1850 Simpson County, Kentucky census with their three-month-old daughter, Mary Jane. The couple moved to Williamson County, Illinois sometime between 1851 and 1856. 

Hugh and Mary had eight children, five of whom were daughters. Their daughters' marital trails proved to be interesting, complex, and confusing, partly because they married each other's husbands! Below is what I think is the tale of their marriages, with their brothers thrown in for good measure. [The underlined are the men who married more than one sister.]

Mary Jane Edwards was born June 1850 in Simpson County, Kentucky. She married Rufus Parker on 8 April 1866 in Williamson County, Illinois. Mary Jane died on 2 October 1907, freeing up her husband Rufus to marry her sister Jemima.

Jemima Edwards was born December 1851 in Simpson County, Kentucky. She married 1) David Winton Dunn, on 5 June 1879 in Williamson County, Illinois. They likely divorced by 1899 (Dr. Dunn went on to marry once or twice more). 2) James Davenport, on 20 June 1899 in Williamson County, Illinois. (He was husband of deceased Louisa A. Edwards) 3rd: 1908 Rufus B Parker (He was the husband of the deceased Mary Jane Edwards.) Jemima married two of her late sister’s husbands and collected Civil War Widow's pensions from both.

Louisa A. Edwards was born in 1859 in Williamson County, Illinois. She married 1) James Forbes 16 May 1878 in Williamson County, Illinois. 2) James Davenport, 24 December 1888 in Williamson County, IL. Louisa appears to have died before 1899, leaving her husband James free to marry her sister Jemima.

America Elvira Edwards was born in 1861 in Williamson County, Illinois. She married Samuel Minter Beasley on 25 February 1863 in Williamson County, Illinois, and died in June 1917. She appears to have had only one husband, and he appears to have married only one sister. Her brother Henry Scott Edwards did, however, marry a family connection.

Lucy Margaret Edwards was born in June 1872 in Williamson County, Illinois. She married Robert Summers on 25 October 1893 in Williamson County, Illinois. Lucy died on 14 November 1930, having had only one marriage.

Lest you think the boys didn't have some interesting marriages....

Richard Edwards was born in May 1856 in Williamson County, Illinois. He married Martha S. Rains, 6 June 1875 Williamson County. She was the daughter of John Rains and Elizabeth Armes.

Sylvester Edwards was born on 18 March 1861 in Williamson County, Illinois. He married Sarah F. Rains, about 1886 in Williamson County. She was also the daughter of John Rains and Elizabeth Armes. Sylvester and his brother Richard married sisters. Sarah died about 1896 and Sylvester married a second time.

Henry Scott Edwards was born in March 1870 in Williamson County, Illinois. He married Nora Beasley on 4 April 1894 in Williamson County. Nora was the daughter of Wilburn Beasley, who was the brother to the above Samuel Beasley who married Elvira Edwards.

Why did these siblings do so much intermarrying? They lived in a small area of Williamson County, likely attending the same schools and churches. As a close-knit family, they didn't look far for spouses. 

George Elmus Edwards (1880-1923)

My great-grandfather, George Elmus Edwards, was born 145 years ago on 7 February 1880 in Williamson County, Illinois. He was the third child and oldest son of Hugh Richard and Martha (Rains) Edwards. There is some confusion surrounding George's birthdate. 

GEORGE’S BIRTH DATE

The family has always celebrated the birthday as 7 February 1880, but the birth certificate dated 7 February 1880 lists the child’s name as John.[1]

• The 1900 census lists Elmus' birth as February 1882 and Marshal (John Marshall was the next son) as October 1883.[2] 
• When he married in 1907, he gave his age as 27, which puts his birth year as 1880.[3]
• When he married again in 1910, he gave his age as 30, again putting his birth year as 1880. The 1910 census also lists his age as 30.[4]
• In 1918, George confused things even more when he registered for the draft. He listed his age at 38, which indicates an 1880 birth date. But he lists his date of birth as 7 February 1882.[5]
• In January of 1920, he is listed as 39 on the census, which would agree with a February 1880 birth date.[6]
• A death certificate has not been found, but his tombstone reads 1880-1923. [7]

When presented with conflicting evidence, his daughter Stella Edwards Butzek was adamant that his birthdate was 7 February 1880. This mystery may never be sorted out—the name John on the birth record can't be explained. But it is clear that George was born before John. George may not have really known what year he was born in, and his parents may have decided to change his name after it was registered. (Or the registrar just made a mistake.) 

GROWING UP 

George grew up on a farm in the Northern Township of Williamson County. He had seven siblings; two (Mary and Henry) died at birth, but the others all lived to adulthood. He was called both George and Elmus throughout his life. It's unclear where the name Elmus came from. There doesn't appear to be any familial connection to the name, and it seems an uncommon name in Illinois at the time. And there was only one Elmus Edwards found in the area.[8]

THE QUAIL PROBLEM

 In 1900, the Lacey Act was adopted, which prohibited shipping live or dead animals across state borders without a federal permit, and in the early 1900s, many in southern Illinois ran afoul of this law.[9] In 1903, Noah Moore attempted to ship 1,200 quail from nearby Franklin County to St. Louis -- in a coffin.[10] In 1904, a man with two trunks containing 700 quail was arrested near Creal Springs.[11]  A 1905 article noted that J.P Odell was arrested for shipping 556 quail to St. Louis. The penalty was $12,300 [12] Others were arrested for shipping large amounts of quail to St. Louis.[13]

George Elmus Edwards was in the middle of all this. He was arrested for shipping several hundred quail out of Williamson County. Out on bond, he was arrested again in January of 1905 for attempting to ship more quail. The bond for the second offense was set at $2,800.[14] When shipping the quail, he apparently used the alias W.W. Stone and, in April, was found guilty of twenty counts of violating the Lacey Act. He still faced an additional 172 counts.[15] No further mention of his quail shipping exploits has been located.

WHO IS LOREN EDWARDS?

The next bit of trouble George Elmus got into was apparently fathering a child out of wedlock. On 12 September 1906, Loren Henry Edwards was born in Franklin County, Illinois. His birth certificate listed his mother as Alice Stubblefield, maiden name Alice Stubblefield. His father was listed as Elmas Edwards, a farmer.[16] Alice was the daughter of Thomas James and Louisa (Kirkpatrick) Stubblefield. She may have married, around 1900, to a James or Hiram Stubblefield, who was a next-door neighbor in 1900. She married a second time in 1919 to Louis Cloyd. Loren used the name Stubblefield in his early life. In 1940, he gave his name as Loren Edwards on the census. His surname had been written as Stubblefield, but it was crossed out. Loren was the informant.[17] In 1940, he used the name Loren Henry Edwards when registering for the draft.[18] His obituary stated he was born to Elmas and Alice Stubblefield Edwards.[19] No record of a marriage between Elmus and Alice has been located. DNA evidence seems to bear out the fact that Loren was related to George’s family. 

AMANDA WILLIAMS, A MYSTERY WIFE

In September of 1907, Elmus Edwards, aged 27, married Amanda Williams, aged 19.[20] It is unclear what happened to Amanda, but there is an unphotographed entry on Find a Grave for Amanda Edwards, who died on 22 March 1908 at the age of 19 years, 7 months, and 3 days. This would fit with the age given at marriage. It also lists the inscription as the wife of C.E., but since there is no photograph, that can’t be verified, and it could likely be G.E. Whatever happened, Amanda seems to have disappeared. 

MARRIAGE TO MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER

In March of 1910, 30-year-old G.E. Edwards of Corinth married 17-year-old Belle Pogue of Thompsonville. They were married by  John Borum, a clergyman in Williamson County. His parents are listed as Richard Edwards and Martha Rains. Her parents are listed as Joseph Pogue and [illegible] McClaran. It was his second marriage, her first.[21] They set up house in Corinth, where they were enumerated in the 1910 census less than a month after marriage. Elmus, as he was listed, was working as a farm laborer, and they were renting. They lived next door to Elmus’ father, Richard.[22] George Elmus Edwards had finally settled down to a wife and raising a family. 

When he registered for the draft in September of 1918, the family was living in Thompsonville, Franklin County, Illinois. He was self-employed as a farmer.[23] By 1920, they had three children, son George, and daughters Stella and Hazel.[24] Ruby Laura was born shortly after the census was taken in 1920. The following year, his five-year-old daughter Hazel died from burns suffered when her clothes caught on fire while she was drying her hair in front of the fire.

George Elmus Edwards died in March of 1923. No death record has been found. His widow, Belle, went on to marry at least two more times. 

GENEALOGICAL SUMMARY

GEORGE ELMUS EDWARDS, born 7 February 1880 or 1882 in Williamson County, Illinois; died 12 March 1923 in Williamson County. He married 1) 20 September 1907 in Williamson County to Amanda Williams, daughter of Millard M and Edna J. Williams. He married 2) 31 March 1910 in Williamson County, Illinois to Olive Isabel Pogue (1892-1959), daughter of Josiah and Mahala Jane (McClerran) Pogue.  He is buried in County Line Cemetery in Franklin County, Illinois. They had four children.

Children of George and Olive Isabel:

1. George Everett Edwards, born 1 October 1910, Corinth, Williamson County, Illinois; died 15 July 1939, Corinth, Williamson County, Illinois. Married 3 July 1931 in Cook County, Illinois to Clara Jane Martin (1912-2009), daughter of William and Caroline (Clayton) Martin. No children.
2. Stella Mae Edwards, born 23 July 1912, Corinth, Williamson County; died 1 January 1989 in Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois. Married 9 May 1931 in Chicago, to Anton Marcinek/Butzek (1907-1943). Two children.
3. Hazel Lucille Edwards, born 23 July 1916, Corinth, Williamson County, Illinois; died 12 November 1921, Corinth, Williamson County.
4. Ruby Laura Edwards, born 22 April 1920, Corinth, Williamson County; died 29 April 2011, Bartlett, Cook County, Illinois. Married 22 June 1940 in Chicago, Cook County to Charles A. Kroll (1919-1974) son of Francis and Anna Kroll. Five children.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] "Birth Records, 1877-1925," digital image, Family Search  (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9KE-XWGM : accessed 11 September 2024); Williamson County, p 99-100, #1294, entry for John Edwards, 7 February 1880; FSL Film #7621362, image 114 of 748.

[2] 1900 U.S. census, Williamson County, Illinois, population schedule, Northern Township, e.d. 119, sheet 7a, dwelling 126, family 134, Richard Edwards household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3809691:7602: accessed 11 September 2024).

[3] “Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940,” digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-LB2L-KFR: accessed 11 September 2024); Williamson County, Book L, p. 358, #2209, Edwards-Williams, 1907; DFN 5204408, Film #965419, image 549. 

[4]“Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940,” digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KF25-NZK: accessed 11 September 2024); Williamson County, Book M, page333, #3854, Licesen for Edwards-Pogue, :Digital Fold Number 5204409, Film #965420, image 202. For census, 1910 U.S. census, Williamson County, illinois, population schedule, Corinth Township, e.d. 154, sheet 10b, dwelling 146, family 146, Elmus Edwards household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/6127180:7884: accessed 11 September 2024).

[5] “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/84317:6482: accessed 11 September 2024); card for George Elmus Edwards, Order #A292, Williamson County IL Local Board No 1, 12 September 1918.

[6] 1920 U.S. census, Williamson county, Illinois, population schedule, Corinth Township, e.d. 162, sheet 5b, dwelling 103, viist 104, Elmus Edwards household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/90055261:6061: accessed 13 October 2022).

[7] Photo of tombstone, County Line Cemetery, Franklin County, Illinois. Photo taken by author and in personal archive.

[8] Derivation of the name Elmus and use in southern Illinois in the time period, ChatGPT-4 (https://chatgpt.com : accessed 7 February 2025). 

[9] 18 U.S.C. 42.

[10] "Quail Shipped in Coffin," Free Press (Carbondale IL), 7 January 1903, p.5, col.2.

[11] "Quail hunter Arrested," Free Press, 21 December 1904, p.2, col.3.

[12] "Untitled," Free Press, 3 February 1905, p.4, col.4.

[13] "Quail Shippers Arrested," Free Press, 24 February 1905, p.2, col.2.

[14] "Local News," Free Press, 24 January 1905, p.3, col.2.

[15] "Game Law is Violated," McHenry Plaindealer, 20 April 1905, p.7, col.6. 

[16] "Franklin County Register oof Births," digital image, FamilySearch; Volume 2-3, 1888-1915, Entry for No name child 1906; Film #4002901, image 291 of 6

[17] 940 U.S. census, Franklin County, Illinois, population schedule, Barren Township, e.d. 28-1, sheet 4b, visit #121, Loren Edwards household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/139333475%3A2442 : accessed 7 October 2024).

[18] “World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/40110818:2238 : accessed 7 October 2024); Serial #1935, card for Loren Henry Edwards, 1940, Franklin County Local Board #1, Benton, Illinois.

[19] “Loren Edwards,” Southern Illinoisan,” 24 October 1978, p.24, col. 1; digital image, newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 7 October 2024).

[20] See footnote #3.

[21] See footnote #4.

[22] 1910 U.S. census, Williamson County, illinois, population schedule, Corinth Township, e.d. 154, sheet 10b, dwelling 146, family 146, Elmus Edwards household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/6127180:7884: accessed 11 September 2024).

[23] See Footnote #5.

[24] See Footnote #6.

Hugh Richard Edwards

Hugh Richard Edwards, usually known as Richard, was my 2nd great-grandfather. He was born in Williamson County, Illinois 11 May 1856 and lived his entire life in Williamson County. Richard's parents were Hugh H. Edwards and Mary Hilton. Richard was born the first child born to the family after they made their move from Simpson County Kentucky, to Illinois sometime around 1855.

Richard lived the quiet life of a southern Illinois farmer. He appears to have worked hard, raised a family and didn't make waves during his lifetime. Typically people like Richard don't leave a lot of records behind and Richard is an example of that.

In 1860 Hugh R. is listed as aged 5 and in school. His grandparents, Richard and Mary Hilton live next door. None of the Edwards family can be found in the 1870 census and his grandparents would have been dead by this time. A number of other folks who should be in the 1870 census are missing too so I believe they were either skipped in the enumeration or there is a section missing. I've checked through various web sites and have had no luck finding them even doing a page by page search in case they were mis-indexed.

Richard marries on 6 June 1875 to Martha Rains, daughter of John Rains and Elizabeth Arms. It appears as though Richard lied about his age on the marriage license. He lists himself as being 21 which would have made him born in 1854. However most other records list his age as 1856 including the 1860 census which was taken close to his birth date. For men under 21 at this time, parental approval was required. It is possible their first child Laura was born in December of 1875 so perhaps Martha was pregnant and the family disapproved? (Martha's birth year has been given variously as 1875 and 1876.) It would be interesting to know why he appears to have lied about his age.

One other possible thing happened during this decade. There is a record of Richard Edwards and Pleasant Finny being brought up on charges of Petit Larceny. This was noted in the Marion Monitor in April 1877. The case was continued and no further information was easily found. This is an intriguing tidbit in the otherwise apparently staid life of Richard Edwards. (NOTE: Petit larceny is defined as stealing another person's personal property - usually valued under $50.)

In the 1880 census, Richard and Martha are living in the Northern Township and have two children including George Elmus, my great grandfather. Richard is a farmer. In 1900 they are living in Northern Township and still farming. This census lists his birth date as May 1851. It is unclear why it lists this at such an early date. Richard and Martha have 6 living children, having lost two early on. Richard is still farming, along with his two sons George Elmus and Lee.

The 1910 census shows that Richard owns his farm, free of mortgage. It says he can read and write, however, he clearly made his mark on his marriage license so I don't believe this to be true unless he has picked up some reading and writing through the years.

In 1920, Richard is still living on his owned farm listed with no occupation so at this point he appears to have retired. This census does state he can't read or write so the 1900 census was probably an error. His sons George Elmus and John Marshall live nearby as does his brother Scott and various Arms family members.

Richard Edwards died 24 June 1928. His death certificate lists his birth date as May 11, 1856. He died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. His son George Elmus had died in 1923 of Tuberculosis. Although there are sanatoriums where TB patients are sent, it appears in the case of both Richard and his son, that they remained at home during their illness.

It is unclear as to whether a will was left - more research would need to be done but I believe the land in that area stayed in the family for some time. Richard left behind few records living a quiet farming life.

George Elmus Edwards

George Elmus Edwards was my Great-grandfather. He was almost always called Elmus - sometimes G.E. but very rarely seems to have been called George.

The mystery of George Edwards starts with his birth. Both his daughter Stella and his sister Gertie state unequivocally that George was born 7 February 1880 in Corinth, Williamson County, Illinois. Search of birth records only uncovers one Edwards birth certificate that date and it lists the birth name as John Edwards. Parents were correctly listed as Richard Edwards and Martha Rains. Almost all other records support this birth date as the correct birth date for George Elmus. The outlier is the 1900 Census which lists Elmus Edwards birth date as July 1882. All other records, including draft registration, two marriage records, and 1880, 1910 and 1920 census list 1880 as the correct birth date. His tombstone also lists 1880 as his birth date. Two other pieces of this mystery. His brother Marshall was born most likely in October 1882. He is sometimes called John Marshall. And my grandmother swears that her father was the oldest... which isn't true. He had an older sister born in 1876 shortly after Richard and Martha's 1875 marriage.

So why the confusion? John was the name of Martha's father. Often times, the oldest son is named after one of the fathers. It is unclear where the name George Elmus came from. Few Georges.... Martha had a brother George. Maybe they got him home and realized he didn't really look like a John.

George lived with his parents in the 1880 census in Williamson County, aged 4 months old. He lived with his parents in 1900 in Williamson County. In September 1907 George married Amanda Williams. He was 27 years old. There is no immediate record of the disposition of that marriage and there does not appear to have been any children. But we find George marrying again in March 1910 to Olive Isabel Pogue. The following children were born: George Everett, Stella Mae, Hazel Lucille and Ruby Laura. Hazel was burned to death at about age 5 while combing her hair in front of the fire. George Everett died at aged 28 apparently from a combination of TB and alcoholism. Ruby Laura, later known just as Laura, moved to Chicago and married Charles Kroll. Stella Mae, my grandmother, married Anthony Butzek in Chicago and moved back to southern Illinois where Anthony was killed in a mining accident.

George registered for the military draft in 1918. He was 38 years old which probably explains why he was not drafted. It lists him as being of medium height, medium build, blue eyes and light hair.

George and Olive lived all their relatively short married life in Williamson County. George farmed and apparently played a fiddle in a family band at local square dances. He served a short term as a Justice of the Peace in Thompsonville, serving alongside Thomas J. Wall.

George supposedly died at home from complications of tuberculosis 12 March 1923. No record of his death has been found. Since he had TB it has left me to wonder if he died elsewhere in a TB sanatorium? More searching will need to be done on that. When he died George Elmus did leave property to his children:

• 320 acres to George Everett, along with a house brought from Pittsburg.
• 120 acres to Stella Mae Edwards - and a house brought from Pittsburg.
• 40 acres and home place (house and barn) to Ruby Laura Edwards. The house burned down and Laura sold the property to her half-brother Richard Eugene Kehder in 1947 for $10/acres.

The above is a bit of a puzzle regarding the house brought from Pittsburg. Were they talking about the same house or were there two? Was the house brought from Pittsburg the homeplace or was there another house that was the home place? George Elmus was a farmer so it seems unlikely that he had enough money to have all that acreage plus three houses.

George Elmus Edwards lead a fairly unremarkable life as a farmer in southern Illinois. He lived a short life - only 43 years.