Baldwin County GaArchives History .....History of Baldwin County - Edmonson Biography 1925
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 7, 2004, 11:11 am

p. 314-317

ZACH J. EDMONDSON

    Zach J. Edmondson was born in Putnam County, Georgia, November 8, 1838, and
died January 9, 1924.

    His grandfather, Thomas Edmondson, came from Virginia to Columbia County,
Georgia, soon after the Revolutionary War, moving to Putnam when it was in its
infancy, and there reared a family well known in later years.

    Zachariah Edmondson, son of Thomas Edmond-son, and father of Zach J.
Edmondson, spent a life time in Putnam County where his broad acres and many
slaves ranked him among the wealthiest men of that county.

    His wife, Mary Gorley, descended from the Bobos, who with the blood of the
Huguenots in their veins, fled from France and came to America, settling in
Virginia during the latter part of the seventeenth century.

    Young Zach was reared in old time Southern style and knew all of its
comforts and luxury. He treasured its customs and traditions, always.

    His early lessons were learned in the schools of Eatonton and his college
days were spent at Mercer Univeristy (then at Penfield, Georgia).

    After graduation, he came home to be the head of his father's affairs; and
circumstances ever afterward gave to him the life of a planter.

    The War between the States soon followed; the call for volunteers came, and
Zach J. Edmondson went with his county to the front, joining the Putnam
Volunteers, Co. C., 44th Ga. Regiment, under Colonel Robert Smith. He was
secretary and special friend to Colonel Smith. The hardships of a Southern
soldier were not unknown to him; but his faithful servant, Jim, often brought to
him the best that Virginia could afford.

    He was in that fierce charge at Ellison's Mill, where eighty-three were
killed, and three hundred wounded, from the seven hundred who went into the
fight. While at home, on a sick furlough, he was offered the commission of
Adjutant; but he did not return to his former regiment after the death of his
good friend, Colonel Lumpkin. Later, he joined Prudden's Battery and was with
that command, between Augusta and Milledgeville, when the surrender came.

    When the war was over, he returned home, with the strong determination that
he would use his best influence in restoring the broken South.

    During the Reconstruction Days he was, for a time, a citizen of Baldwin
County, going there to maintain his father's interest on a plantation known as
the Sanford place. Several times, little differences occurred between him and
the Federal officers, who were stationed near. These affairs were settled in the
most pleasant manner, and some times the enemy became his good friend.

    Even before the war, much of his young manhood was spent socially in and
around the old Capitol at Milledgeville.

    After returning to his native county, he was married in 1868 to Mrs. Louisa
Hodges Coombs, a woman of beauty and rare culture. There were six children by
this union. Four of them, Zach J., Jr., Albert Sidney, Louisa D. (Mrs. Champion)
and Martha Virginia, grew to maturity and lived in Putnam County. Mrs. Coombs
had one daughter, Leila (Mrs. J. S. Turner, of Eatonton).

    Possessing a high order of intellect and sound judgment, Z. J. Edmondson was
ever recognized as one of Putnam's leading citizens. His ideals were high; his
principals, pure and noble.

    He served on the County Board of Education, and was for many years a Trustee
of the Eatonton School. He was also trustee and chairman of the Board of
Friendship School. The last grand jury in the old courthouse, and the first in
the new honored him as foreman.

    When a young man, he joined the Methodist Church, giving to his master's
cause a long life of service. He was ever true and loyal to every call for the
uplift of his fellow man. He held his friends dearer than himself.

    He was an official of Friendship Church, and Superintendent of the Sunday
School there almost as far back as memory goes.

    His life stood for home, for country, and for God. As the years passed, and
his Christian life ripened in the autumn time, his gentle unassuming manner, and
kind spirit was for him the love and esteem of all that came within his influence.

    In his going, a gentleman of the old school passed away.



Additional Comments:
From: 

Part V

HISTORY of BALDWIN COUNTY GEORGIA

BY MRS. ANNA MARIA GREEN COOK

ILLUSTRATED

ANDERSON. S. C.
Keys-Hearn Printing Co.
-1925—


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