My Genealogy Hound

Curtis C. Edmisson is a leading citizen of Washington Township, Dallas Co., Mo., and is a son of Emanuel and Nancy (Johnson) Edmisson, who were natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. The father died in Dallas County, Mo., in 1854, at the age of sixty-two years, the mother also dying there in 1840, when a comparatively young woman. They were married in Johnson County, Ky., whither the father had emigrated when a young man, and after residing in that State for a few years went to Tennessee, and afterward to Missouri, being among the very early settlers of Dallas County. In 1849 the family went to Randolph County, Ark., but returned to Missouri in 1853, locating in Hickory County, where the mother’s death occurred. After her death Emanuel married Widow Nancy McVey, who is now living in Dallas County at an extreme old age. The father was a Democrat and a farmer throughout life, and he and wife became the parents of fourteen children, twelve of whom lived to be grown, Curtis C. being the eleventh of the family. He and a brother and three sisters are the only ones living at the present time. Their names are as follows: Martha (widow of George H. Hill), Ellen (widow of Thomas Hill), Nancy (wife of John Allcorn), Curtis C., and S. R., who is a mechanic of Dallas County. In 1857 Curtis C. left home, and crossed the plains to California, making the trip in six months. The year before he had started to make the trip, but after he and his friends had passed Fort Kearney, they had a fight with the Indians, in which one of the men was wounded, and Mr. Edmisson remained to care for him until his death. By that time the train had advanced such a distance that he was unable to join it, and he returned home and started the next year, and during a fourteen years’ residence in the West was engaged in mining in Oregon, Nevada, Washington Territory, Idaho Territory, Montana Territory, Utah Territory, Wyoming Territory and British Columbia. He also followed teaming and farming, and in all these occupations was quite successful, having surmounted difficulties to which many men would have succumbed. He can tell many thrilling experiences of his Western life, and for some time, while residing in Montana, filled the office of justice of the peace. Since returning to Missouri he has been engaged in farming and stock dealing, and is a wealthy and enterprising citizen of the county, being the owner of a well-improved and well-located farm. On the fourteenth of December, 1871, he was married to Rhoda R. C. Randles, a daughter of Robert O. Randles, by whom he is the father of the following children: John R., Nancy Olive, Lillie Melvina, Curtis O., William R., James F., Ella R., and the following, who are deceased: Ida M. and Cora L. Mrs. Edmisson was born in Dallas County, Mo., April 4, 1854, and is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Edmisson is a Mason, and a member of the Agricultural Wheel.