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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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David
Edmundson Widely
known as one of the leading citizens of central Iowa during her pioneer history
and the subsequent period of her development, the name of David Edmundson stands
out conspicuously, and although he has long since been called to a higher plane
of action, the influence of his useful life, the many unselfish and charitable
deeds he performed will continue to pervade the lives of succeeding generations,
and the hearts of those who had the good fortune to be associated with him are
warmed and their spirits braced by some faint echo of the words of wisdom and
kindness he spoke. His well directed effort in the practical affairs of life,
his capable management of his business interest and his keen discernment brought
him prosperity and his life demonstrated what may be accomplished by any man of
energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to
continue his labors in the face of any discouragements which may seem to arise.
In all the relations of life he commanded the respect and confidence of
those with whom he was brought into contact, and a biographical history of
Jasper County would certainly lack an important link were a record of his useful
and interesting career omitted. David
Edmundson was the scion of a fine old Southern family, many winning
characteristics of which he seemed to inherit, and he himself was born on Dixie
soil, his birth occurring in Harrison County, Kentucky, June 9, 1811, and there
he spent his early boyhood, removing with his parents, William and Mary Emundson,
to Indiana, locating at Greencastle in 1827, and then the death of his father
occurred, and afterwards David Edmundson came to Burlington, Iowa.
He located in Des Moines County in 1836 and there he remained until in
March, 1841, when he was united in marriage with Temperance Gordon, a lady of
many beautiful attributes and the representative of an excellent old family, her
birth having occurred in May 1821, in Pennsylvania, she being the daughter of
Alexander and Elizabeth Gordon. After
their marriage they moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, having remained in Des Moines
County but a short time. Remaining
about a year in the former place, they moved, in 1846, to Jasper County, and
here purchased one hundred and sixty acres where the County poor farm is now
located; after remaining there three years they moved to Newton in 1849 and
there Mr. Edmundson assisted in laying out the city, and here he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres from the government, he and his wife being among the
very earliest settlers of this County and city, and certainly none were more
influential or prominent in its early history than they, and none better known
or more highly esteemed, for with old-time hospitality and genuine neighborly
impulses they performed unnumbered acts of kindness among the first settlers. Mr. Edmundson was active in politics and wielded a strong
influence for his party and he was called upon to represent Jasper County in the
State Legislature when the capital of the state was located at Iowa City.
He was afterwards elected County judge, the duties of which important
office he performed in an eminently creditable manner, as he did those of
representative. He had charge of
building the old court house in 1862, which was only recently torn down. When
the Civil War came on Mr. Edmundson was too patriotic to restrain his impulses
to fight in defense of the old flag and he offered his services to the Union,
though he was fifty-one years old at the time. He was commissioned second
lieutenant of Company D, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and after a very
gallant service of two years resigned and returned to this County and for the
next fifteen years devoted his attention very largely to the office of justice
of the peace. He was one of the
brave band who crossed the trackless western plains to the gold fields of
California, he and a number of other Jasper County citizens making the long and
prolix journey in 1850, the trip requiring three months.
The return trip was made by water by way of the Isthmus of Panama and up
the Mississippi river. He, in later life, talked most interestingly of this
experience in the far West and of other early occurrences. Politically, he was early in life a Whig and after the
Republican Party was organized he loyally supported its principles. He made a
splendid record as judge, both in this County and at the military post at
Columbus, Kentucky. The
death of this excellent citizen occurred at his late residence. No. 520 East
Temperance Street. Newton, Iowa, on July 26, 18951 at the age of eighty-four:
years. One of his brothers lived to be ninety-two years old and his mother was
ninety-four years of age when she passed away in Oskaloosa, Iowa. To
Mr. and Mrs. David Edmundson eight children were born, namely: Arabella, the
eldest child, is the wife of S. W. Macy, of Spokane, Washington; Alex lives at
Los Angeles, California; David G., lives at Des Moines, Iowa; Ella is deceased;
Freda lives at the old home in Newton; Mary is deceased; Charles is deceased;
Elizabeth lives with her sister, Freda, at the old homestead mentioned above,
and here the mother, who was a woman of gracious personality, passed to her rest
on April 2, 1910. The
Edmundson family has ranked in the forefront of Jasper County citizens from the
earliest pioneer days to the present, none standing higher socially, and no one
has done more for the locality honored by his citizenship than David Edmundson,
whose memory is revered by all who knew him personally or of his work. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. |
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