Zebulon Brevard Edmiston

EDMISTON, Zebulon Brevard, born April 19, 1830 in Hempstead County, Arkansas, was the son of David Crawford and Rebekah Thornton Edmiston. He was a farmer and merchant, member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a corporal in the 34th Arkansas Infantry. On December 16, 1852 he married Envir Jane Gray, daughter of Sanford Poly Gray. No children are recorded. [1911 Arkansas Confederate Census]........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 waR 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 an::l 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, be en938

gaged 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. S. 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.

THE EDMISTON’S OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS

BY ALLAN S. HUMPHREYS

(14) ZEBULON BREVARD 4 EDMISTON, (David Crawford, 3 etc.), was born 17 April 1830, in Clark Co., Ark.; died 18 Nov. 1891, Washington Co., Ark.; married 16 Dec. 1852, Washington County, Ark., to Eunice Jane Gray, (dau. Of Sandford Foley and Elizabeth Brooke (Orms) Gray), b. 9 July 1827; d. 7 April 1907. They are both buried in Edmiston Cemetery.

On 25 Feb. 1853, ZEBULON Edmiston bought Granville B. and Unity Shannon, for $600.00, a tract of 111 acres. Witnesses were Joseph P. Stout and s. H. Shipley. On Oct. 28, 1867, he was appointed administrator for the estate of James H. Shannon, and on 6 Dec. 1880 he served as administrator for the estate or Harvey H. Edmiston. On 25 April, l.884 Z.B. Edmiston and W.H. Edmiston were appointed administrators for the estate of D.C. Edmiston. They gave bond in the sum of $8000 with George Simpson and Columbus c. Seay as securities.

In 1872 Zebulon & Edmiston moved from his farm home near Morrow to Canehil1 to allow his sons to attend the college there. He also began the operation of' a general. store which he continued until 1884 when he retired and turned the store over to his sons.

He helped in the organization of the Salem. Congregation of' the C.P. Church in 1888 and was an Elder in this church until his death. He also helped in the organization of the Cane Hill Cannery 1n 1888.