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My EDENS ancestral line has lived in West Virginia since the
1820's. These early EDENS ancestors settled in on Tupper's Creek and Kanawha
Two Mile in Kanawha County, VA (now West Virginia). In my direct line, my
Grandfather was the first to move out of the holler into Charleston.
After my Dad served our Country during WWII, he and my Mother settled into
Belle, WV where I was raised. We visited Tupper's Creek fairly often as I
grew up and I still feel strongly connected to that area. I live out of State
now but West Virginia is still my home - always has been - always will
be.
My name is ROBERT JERALD "Jerry" EDENS. I
was born in Charleston, Kanawha County, WV to ORVILLE CLIFFORD EDENS
and JUSTINE MARIE BUTLER. Orville was in the Army Air Core when I
was born and was not allowed to come home for my birth. His Mother died a
month later - they let him come home for her funeral - and he got to see
me. I can’t imagine the range of emotions he must have experienced.
Orville was born 13 Jul 1922, Tupper's Creek, Kanawha
Co., WV to ROBERT “Bob” STANTON EDENS and MARY ELIZABETH
“Lizzy” JORDAN. Justine was born in Charleston, Kanawha
Co., WV to JOSEPH MORGAN BUTLER Sr. and EDITH MAE FRAME. Orville
and Justine were married in Catlettsburg, Boyd Co., KY and had two children:
Robert Jerald and David Allen. Orville died 10 Sep 1996 while hunting in
Jackson Co, WV.
Robert Stanton Edens was born in March 1893 in Kanawha Co.,
WV to SQUIRE MORRIS EDENS and NANCY J. WALKER. Mary Elizabeth
“Lizzy” Jordan was born 13 Dec 1902 in Kanawha Co., WV. to JOHN
C. JORDAN and EMMA VANCE. Bob and Lizzy were married 18 Mar
1920, in Kanawha, WV and had two children: Orville Clifford b.13 Jul 1922
and Edsel Clarkson b.9 Dec 1927. Lizzy died 8 Mar 1943 in Charleston, Kanawha
Co., WV. Bob died in 1957 in Charleston, Kanawha Co., WV.
Squire Morris Edens was born 1 Nov 1845 to JAMES ALEXANDER EDENS and
ARINDA HUBBARD. Nancy J. Walker was born in 1851 in Kanawha Co., WV
to HARVEY WALKER m. EMELINE LEGG. Squire and Nancy were married
5 Sep 1873, in Kanawha Co., WV and had thirteen children: Joe, Howard, Clark,
Myrtl, Eliza b.1874, William Joseph b.Mar 1877, Alice Susan b.19 Dec 1879,
Lourena b.1883, Albert b.Jan 1888, James A. b.May 1891, un-named male b.14
Mar 1892, Robert Stanton b.Mar 1893, and Emory Lee b.1902. Nancy died after
1899. Squire died in 1900, Kanawha Co., WV.
James Alexander “Alec” Edens was born 15 Sep 1820 in Bedford Co.,
Va to JESSIE JERIMIAH EDENS and DOROTHY WILLS
DAVIS. Arinda Hubbard was born 15 Oct 1822 in Kentucky to DAVID
HUBBARD and NANCY STAFFORD. James and Arinda were married 13 Dec 1839
in Kanawha Co, WV and had seventeen children: Alfred Moore b.10 Dec 1838,
Lavina b.16 Aug 1840, Roselle Richard b.Abt 1842, Rachael b.1842, Cynthia
b.1844, Squire Morris b. 1 Nov 1845, Rebecca b.1847, James Alexander b.1848,
Emily b.1849, Nancy b.1850, Mahala b.1852, Aletha b.1855, Mary b.10 Nov 1856,
Joseph Hubbard, b. 10 Nov 1856, Albert Sherman b. Nov 1861, Thomas b. 1869,
and America b. 1869. Arinda died 20 Feb 1888 in Kanawha Co., WV. James died
20 Feb 1899 in Kanawha Co, WV.
Jessie Jerimiah Edens was born about 1778 in Patric Co, Va. At the
risk of being chastised by the purists, some feel that Jessie’s father
was DAVID EDENS born about 1750 in England. There are references that
seem to support that. However, no direct documentation has been found yet,
thus the mystery continues. Jessie’s mother was MARY ANN _____. This
is supported by a document she
signed giving permission for daughter Mildred H. Edens, Jessie’s
sister, to marry. Other children of Mary Ann: Benjamin B., Davis Elisha,
Alexander, and James.
Finding out about my ancestors back
beyond my Grandfather was a challenge. Robert Stanton Edens was only
seven years old when his Father, Squire, died. Henry Wise Edens, an
older cousin took Robert and two siblings into his home to raise. Henry and
Hannah Ann Walker were then Mom and Dad to him. When Robert Stanton
died in 1957, his family bible
was passed on to his son Edsel. When Edsel died in 1975, the bible was passed
to my brother David. From the family section of that bible, I learned the
beginnings of the information I would need to connect to the lineage described
above.
When Robert “Bob” Stanton Edens and Mary Elizabeth
“Lizzy” Jordan first set up house keeping on Tupper’s
Creek, it was in a “shack across the creek against the side of the
hill” as described by my Father Orville. Within a couple of years, they
bought land on Silas Drive near by and built a house. That house was wired
for electricity by Orville in the 40’s and is still standing and occupied.
Bob and Lizzy are now at rest on Cooper’s Creek, not far from that first
house, in the Jordan Family Cemetery.
Orville is now at rest in Jordan Cemetery close to his Dad and Mother.
No one is left there now to look after the cemetery. I will do what I can
when I visit back home.
Robert Stanton's sister, Alice Susan EDENS Walker and her husband
George William. Walker lived the next house up on Silas Drive. That's
all mobile homes now. Uncle George and Aunt Alice are at rest across the
creek from where Silas Drive joins Tupper's Creek. Orville had markers made
and set them on their graves a few years back. He would wade the creek and
clear their graves once in a while. Guess that's my job now too. I don't
mind.
I have documented my life, and the memories of the relatives of my childhood,
in a journal. It includes directions to cemeteries and the whole family tree.
Maybe someday one of my descendants will find it, learn about GGGgrandpa
Jerry, and come to visit me, my parents, and my grandparents on Cooper’s
Creek...
I visit the following sites regularly looking for more roots:
Allegheny Home Page
Kanawha Co
Queries
Don Norman's Family
Files
Charleston Gazette
I can't say enough about the help I have gotten from Marieda DERRICK
Edens in discovering my ancestors. Her dedication to genealogy and
the preservation of her family ancestors is to be commended. Try this link
to enjoy her fine work.
Marieda's
Home Pages
You might also find a common ancestor in my whole family tree