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ENOCH EDMONSTON, a member of the county Board of Supervisors, representing Bainbridge township, is one of the prominent citizens of Schuyler county, and is entitled to recognition in its annals. He was born in Carroll county, Missouri, March 2, 1856, a son of Enoch Edmonston, Sr.; the father was born in Buncombe county, North Carolina, July 20, 1801, a son of Baziel Edmonston, who removed from Maryland, his native State, to North Carolina, and thence to the Territory of Indiana, in 1808; he was a pioneer of Dubois county, and there spent the last years of his life. He was married to Hannah Rose, who was born in North Carolina and died in Indiana. Enoch Edmonston, their son, was reared in Indiana and was married there. In 1829 he emigrated to Illinois with his brother, spent the summer in Schuyler county, and in the autumn returned to Indiana. In 1834 he again came to the State, accompanied by his family; he made the trip overland with two teams, camping on the way, and located on a tract of land that was afterward found to be patent land; he then removed to section 31, where he resided a short time, soon making a claim to a tract of Government land on section 29; he erected a house on this place, made some improvements, and lived there until he purchased land on section 32. As he prospered he added to his landed estate, and at one time owned about 1,000 acres. In 1855 he rented his farms, and went to Carroll county, Missouri, where he purchased land and resided for two or three years; at the end of that time he returned to Schuyler county, where he was living at the time of his death, August 2, 1872. He was twice married; the first wife was Susan Allen, a native of Buncombe county, North Carolina, and a daughter of Daniel and Celia (Hyde) Allen; she died in 1854; the second marriage was to Sarah (Barbee) Newsom. Mr. Edmonston was prominently identified with the best interests of the county; for six years he was Sheriff of the county, and was Treasurer for two years, discharging his duties with marked ability and fidelity.Enoch Edmonston, Jr., was two years old when his parents returned from Missouri to Illinois. He received his education in the common schools, and had the advantage of a term at a business college in Quincy. For a period of three years he was engaged in business at Quincy, and with the exception of that time he has given his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits; he now occupies the old homestead. He was married in March, 1885, to Nancy Ater, a native of Cass county, Illinois, and a daughter of John J. and Mary Ater, natives of Morgan county, Illinois, and pioneers of Cass county. Mr. and Mrs. Edmonston are the parents of four children: Belle, Roy, Floss and Fay. Independent in thought and action, Mr. Edmonston has never been associated with any political party, but cast his first vote with the Labor party, and now gives his support to the organization known as the People's party. He is a member of Woodstock Grange, No.448, P. of H.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 195-196.
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