Shelby-Lowndes County AlArchives Biographies.....Edwards, David November 23, 1832 - March 3, 1903 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Golowka alabamagengal@gmail.com July 10, 2008, 9:28 pm Author: Memorial Record of Alabama", volume 2, published by Brant & Fuller in Madison, WI (1893), pages 901-902 David Edwards, M. D., one of the oldest physicians of Shelby county, was born in Lowndes County, Ala., November 23, 1832. He is a son of Zachariah A. & Elizabeth (Ivey) Edwards. Zachariah A. Edwards was a native of North Carolina, and came to Alabama in 1816, settling in Lowndes county, where he remained the rest of his life with the exception of seven years spent in Talladega county. He was a farmer all his life except three years that he spent in merchandising at White Hall, Ala, and two years at Benton, Ala. He was a captain of a company organized to take part in the Seminole war, but the war came to an end without their services being required. David Edwards, the grandfather of Dr. Edwards, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Dr. Edwards was reared on the farm, and had the advantages only of a common school education. In 1859 he entered the Augusta medical college at Augusta, Ga., and graduated in 1860. On leaving college he removed to Shelby county, locating about six miles south of Wilsonville, removing in 1861 to Wilsonville, establishing an office and beginning here the practice of his profession. He has since remained at Wilsonville, and has acquired a large and lucrative practice throughout the surrounding country. In 1862 he enlisted in company K, Thirty-first Alabama infantry, served as a private soldier six months and was then promoted to be orderly-sergeant, serving as such officer one year when he was commissioned third lieutenant, and was almost immediately afterward promoted to first lieutenant. During eighteen months of this time he was detailed as assistant surgeon. Returning to his command he continued on the line until November 29, 1864, when he was wounded in the right leg just below the knee, the ball going in the front and lodging in the leg, the doctor cut it out himself without assistance. He was also wounded in the right thigh. Among the battles in which he was engaged may be mention the following: Chattanooga, Shell Mound, Tazewell and Cumberland Gap, and he was then in line of battle thirty-seven days while marching through Kentucky. He was then in battles of Murfreesboro, Vicksburg, Chickasaw Bayou, Warrenton, Port Gibson, Baker’s Creek, Edward’s Station, Black River and Vicksburg, where he was captured, and afterward paroled and exchanged. Upon re-organization of his regiment he went to Chattanooga, and was with his company in all its engagements until the close of the war; Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Rocky Face Mount, Crows’ Valley, Resaca, New Hope Church, Marietta, Atlanta, Jonesboro, the second battle of Resaca, Florence, Ala., Mount Pleasant, Ten., and Columbia, Tenn., where he received the wound that terminated his fighting during the war of the rebellion. He was then transferred to Nashville, and thence to Louisville, where he was paroled and thence came to his home. In 1852 he was married to Elizabeth B. McAdams, daughter of James McAdams. To this marriage there have been born ten children, six of whom are living, viz.: David F., William A., Mary E., Joseph A., Clarence and Jessie L. The mother was born in Shelby county, Ala., and is a member of the Baptist church. Dr. Edwards is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been justice of the peace of beat No. 9 the past fourteen years. Additional Comments: 1850 US Census, Shelby County, Columbiana, page 339A, lines 5 - 7 shows David Edwards, age 27, a physician born in Alabama, with his wife, Elizabeth, age 26, and their son, Frank, age 2. They are living with her parents, James McAdams, age 69, a farmer born in South Carolina, his wife, Sarah, age 55, born in South Carolina, Jno W. McAdams, age 34, born in Alabama and H. C., a male, age 17, born in AL. The 1860 Shelby County Census, Wilsonville, page 477B, lines 28-34, shows David, age 37, with wife Elizabeth, age 36, son David, age 12 (is this Frank?), William, age 10, Mary, age 8, Joseph, age 4, and an infant, age 8/12. The 1880 US Census, Shelby County, Wilsonville, ED 125, page 283B, lines 34-41, show David, age 49, wife Elizabeth, age 49, son William H., age 19, daugter Mary, age 17, son Alfred J. (Joseph A.) age 14, son Walter G., age 8, son Clarence B., age 5, and Babe, age 3. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/shelby/bios/edwards781gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb