My Genealogy Hound

T. W. Edmondson, of the firm of Wood, Edmondson & Britt, Star Grocery House, was born in Fort Smith in 1857, and is a son of Samuel and Ann (Manning) Edmondson. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Tennessee in 1803, and when small went with his father, Thomas, to Macon, Ga. He was a lawyer, and when a young man located in Crawford County, at Old Crawford Court House, but later moved to Fort Smith, where he was one of the first settlers. He devoted his attention to his profession and political affairs, and represented Sebastian County in the State Legislature two terms. He was one of the leading lights of the Fort Smith bar for a number of years. His death occurred in 1866. The mother of T. W. was Mr. Edmondson’s second wife, who was born in Ireland in 1819. She came to the United States when about twelve, and is now a resident of Fort Smith. Two of her children are living: Samuel M., born in Fort Smith in 1853, and now justice of the peace, and our subject. His early education was received at the last named place, and when thirteen he clerked in a restaurant one year, and afterward in a bakery. In 1876 he came to Van Buren, and established a bakery and restaurant. In 1882 W. O. Girard became his partner, and in 1884 Mr. Edmondson sold his interest. In 1885 he worked for Shibley & Wood and the following year Harry Wood and himself established a grocery, which they ran a year. He then sold out to Mr. Wood and started for himself, and in 1887 sold out to James Wood and Frederick Britt, but in March, 1888, bought a third interest in the firm. They have one of the finest and best stocks in Van Buren, and enjoy a large patronage. In 1879 Mr. Edmondson married Annie Wood, daughter of James M. and Sophronia Wood, and a native of this town, born in 1860. She is a member of the Christian Church, but he is a Catholic. He is a director and stockholder in the Van Buren Ice and Coal Company, and is treasurer of the same. Politically he is a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Hancock in 1880.