Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 824 - 827

THOMAS EDMONDSON, an old and well-known resident of Grant Township, is accredited with having improved one of the finest farms within its borders. He came to Kansas in the summer of 1880, and purchased a section of partly improved land, where he has since profitably employed his time, and besides the thorough cultivation of the soil, repaired the old buildings and put up new having now two residences, in one of which he resides with his family, and the other is occupied by a tenant.

             The early years of our subject were spent in Hamilton County, Ohio, where he was born Aug. 25, 1820; the father moved to Dayton, Ohio, about 1826 or 1827, where our subject remained until years of maturity, when he took up his abode in Clarke County. At Springfield he conducted a tannery for some years, and from there came to this State, in February, 1880.

            Edward Edmondson, the father of our subject, was a native of Delaware, and married Miss Ruth Richards, who was born in Pennsylvania. Of the latter State the maternal grandparents of our subject, Jonathan Richards and his wife, were also natives, of Quaker descent. They were of that kindly and unobtrusive character peculiar to this people, and spent their entire lives engaged in the peaceful pursuit of farming on the soil of the Keystone State. The parents of our subject after their marriage first settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, and later became residents of the city of Dayton, where Mr. Edmondson followed his trade of a tanner and finisher, and continued a resident of the Buckeye State until the day of his death, which occurred in the town of Richmond after he had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. The mother had passed away some years previously, when sixty-five years old.

            Our subject continued in his native State until after reaching his majority, and while a resident of Montgomery County was united in marriage, Nov. 11, 1845, with Miss Leah E. Evans, who was born in Cumberland County, Pa., June 16, 1825. She was the fourth child of a family of nine, and the offspring of Owen and Leah (Souder) Evans, also natives of the Keystone State, whence they removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, settling in Dayton at an early period in its history. Mrs. Leah Edmondson became the mother of five children, and died in Springfield, Ohio, in June, 1878. Their daughter, Floressa C., died when three years of age. Another, Anna Cora, is the wife of Willis Davis, who is a druggist at Valley Center, this county; Edward Clarence is a resident of Springfield, Ohio, and Arista E. makes his home with his father; one babe, named Thomas Lincoln, died in infancy.

            The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married at Alexander, Rush County, this State, March 16, 1880, was formerly Mrs. Emily J. Sweetland, who was born in Richland County, Ohio, Aug. 27, 1824. Her first marriage occurred Jan. 20, 1840, to Lyman Sweetland. Mrs. Edmondson is the daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Rush) McClure. The parents were natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. Mrs. E. has one son by her first husband, John M. Sweetland, now forty-two years of age, and engaged in farming and the real-estate business in Rush County. Mr. Edmondson, in addition to the cultivation of the soil, was largely engaged in the breeding of full-blooded Poland-China swine, while the other animals of his farm are of good grade and well cared for. While a resident of Ohio he was quite active in politics, and for four years during the late Rebellion was President of the City Council, of Springfield. He is warmly interested in the temperance movement, and votes with the Prohibitionists. No man is more deeply interested in the growth and prosperity of Southern Kansas, and none more willing to contribute of his time and means to further its interests. His farm is pleasantly located in the southwestern part of Grant Township, one and one-half miles from the village of Valley Center, and the fields enclosed with beautiful hedge fencing, in the summer season, especially, form a beautiful picture in the landscape of that section, as may readily be imagined by a glance at a view of the homestead on another page in this volume.

            Mr. and Mrs. Edmondson coincide with the doctrines of the Universalist Church, and number a goodly list of friends among the best people of Grant Township.

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