My Genealogy Hound

Zebulon B. Edmiston, retired merchant, of Boonsboro, Ark., is a native of Clark County, Ark., born April 17, 1830. His father, David Edmiston, was born in Tennessee, and came to Arkansas when a lad of thirteen, with his father (who also bore the name of David), and located in what is now Clark County. Here David C. Edmiston grew to manhood, and was afterward married to Rebecca Thornton, a native of Illinois, moving to Washington County, Ark., in 1835, where he was engaged in farming until his death in April, 1884. His wife died in August, 1882. Zebulon B. spent his youthful days on his father’s farm, and received a fair common-school education. On December 16, 1852, he was married to Miss Eunice Jane Gray, a daughter of Sanford F. Gray, who bore him three sons: James P., David N. and John S. Mr. Edmiston farmed until 1872, when he moved to Boonsboro to give his children the advantages of the schools of that place, and four years later engaged in merchandising, which occupation he successfully carried on until 1884, when he retired from active business life and left his store to the management of his sons. When the Boonsboro Canning and Evaporating Factory was organized, in 1888, Mr. Edmiston became one of the stockholders and did all in his power to further the enterprise. John S. Edmiston, son of Zebulon B. Edmiston, was educated in the Cane Hill College, and graduated from that institution in the summer of 1876, and in the fall of the same year began teaching in the primary department of the same institution. He then taught in Sebastian County, Ark., for some time, and afterward went to Texas, where he followed the same calling, returning to Arkansas in December, 1878. In February, of the following year, he engaged in merchandising in Boonsboro, and has been actively engaged in that business ever since. He became a director and president of the Cane Hill Canning and Evaporating Company, of which B. J. Wade was made vice-president; S. T. Cole, treasurer; Dr. W. H. Moore, secretary, and the following are the other directors: F. R. Earl, W. H. Moore, J. H. Marler and William M. Lewis. May 6, 1886, Mr. Edmiston was married to Miss Alice L. Lacy, who was born in Alabama and was reared and educated in Arkansas. They have three children: Erin, Lacy and Clem Gray. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.