To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 5/4/12 • Approved: 7/20/18 • Last Updated: 7/23/18 • R687125-G687124-S3
William
PRIVATE
Company F 34 Arkansas Infantry
Captain Pickens Regimenton at Pea Ridge
Civil War Confederate
May 3, 1838 - January 25, 1929
*Obituary
Benton County Record & Democrat & Sun
January 31, 1929
EDWARDS, William - William Edwards was born in Ash county, North Carolina May 3rd, 1838 and was of a family of eleven children, nine of whom came with their parents directly from North Carolina to Benton county. The family settled in Benton county in 1859 on the prairie southeast of Centerton. The deceased departed this life at the home of his son, W.R. Edwards, in Bentonville on January 25, 1929 at the age of 90 years, eight months and twenty-two days, having lived in the county nearly 70 years. On April 3, 1860 he was united in marriage to Susan Higgins who had preceded him to the prairie eleven years. His companion departed this life August 21, 1914. Sixteen children were born to this union, six girls and ten boys, thirteen of whom lived to be grown. Three children died in childhood and five others preceded their father as follows: Mrs. Irena Jones, Steve, John, Sam and Elbert Edwards. He leaves surviving him eight children: Mrs. Mary Milstead, Grandview, Texas; Mrs. Emma Damewood, Liberty, Kansas; Mrs. Nannie Kindle, Proctor, Oklahoma; and Shade, Dave, Frank, Bob and Preston Edwards. He leaves 70 grand children, 78 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Also one brother, Richard Edwards of Hiwasse and one sister, Mrs. Sarah Boyd of Idaho. He was converted in 1865 near the big spring where Centerton now stands under the preaching of Wade Sikes who had just returned from the army. He united with the Spavinaw Baptist church which was holding its meetings in the home of Mr. Shelton, just southeast of where the Antioch church now stands, in 1866. In 1868 he moved to the old farm near Mt. Pleasant and united with the Mt. Pleasant church in 1870 as a charter member and held his membership with this church until death. He never let anything except sickness keep him from attending his church meetings and attended regularly until about one year ago when his physical condition prevented his attending. He was licensed to preach in 1868 by the Spavinaw Baptist church and was ordained by the Mt. Pleasant church in 1870. For 60 years he preached to neglected churches and communities without money or without price, impressing himself upon these communities by his daily Christian life perhaps more than by his sermons in words. He joined the Confederate Army under Capt. Pickens on Pea Ridge but served only a short time on account of his physical condition. Funeral services were held at the Mt. Pleasant Baptist church Sunday afternoon in charge of Eld. Floyd Tillman, pastor of the Mt. Pleasant church, and Eld. J.D. Allen, pastor of the Baptist church of Bentonville, and the body was laid to rest in the Mt. Pleasant cemetery by the side of his companion and a daughter who was buried there 56 years ago as the first person placed in that cemetery.
Martha
Feb 9 1845 - Aug 21 1914
*Obituary
Gravette News-Herald
August 28, 1914
EDWARDS, Susie HAGINS - Mrs. Wm. Edwards died at her home near Mt. Pleasant, east of Gravette, last Friday afternoon, Aug. 21, 1914 following an illness of several weeks duration. Susie Hagins (Edwards) was born in Alleghany Co., N.C. Feb. 9, 1845 and moved with her parents to Benton county when quite small and has since resided here. On April 5th, 1860 she was united in marriage with Wm. Edwards. And to this union were born 16 children, 10 boys and 6 girls; 13 children lived to be grown and 10 yet survive, all of whom were with their beloved parent during her sickness. In this family of children Benton county, as well as the adjoining county in Okla., found some of the most efficient, respected citizens holding important positions of private and public trust - a remarkable family of honorable and upright citizens - a just and happy reward for a good mother. Mrs. Edwards was converted to Christ in the fall of 1867 and soon after joined the Spavinaw Missionary Baptist church (now Antioch) and held her membership with that body until the Mt. Pleasant church was organized near her home {1871} when she moved her membership there and remained a member there until death. The funeral services were conducted by R.F. Jones at noon Aug. 22 followed by interment in the Mt. Pleasant cemetery; a great gathering of people attending to pay a last respect to their departed neighbor who was held so high in their esteem. To the bereaved family and friends the News Herald speaks the sentiments of all in extending words of condolence and sympathy in the passing of Mrs. Edwards.
Contributed on 5/4/12 by wfields55
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 687125