TALIAFERRO COUNTY, GA - BIOS Edwards, Rem Blanchard ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Taken from the pages of Lost in Taliaferro County Georgia Our Edwards Family Ties (A 300 Year History.) by Myra Edwards Maxwell and Terri Kimbrel Saturday. Rem Blanchard Edwards, son of George Thomas and Martha Lyle Edwards, was born October 29, 1892. Rem married December 31, 1920 to Caroline Estelle Gee, daughter of Charles William and Lena Leona Rhodes Gee. Caroline’s grand father Charles William Gee was Sheriff of Taliaferro County in the years 1854 - 1858. Charles was also appointed as the clerk of Superior Court on February 16, 1864. Charles acquired the mercantile business of the Empire Store in Crawfordville in the 1900s. This business was later sold to our cousin Warren Portwood, then to Rem’s sister Vashti. Caroline attended Stephens High School and completed her education at Chicora College in South Carolina. Caroline was a members of the Crawfordville Presbyterian Church when she died February 20, 1931. Caroline was the sole owner of The Southern Cotton Oil Company located in Crawfordville. This Cotton mill opened its door in 1900. On July 1, 1935 Flynt-Stewart Company purchased The Southern Cotton Oil Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the state of New Jersey, of the state of Louisiana, Parish of Orleans. The property stated and fully described for the sum 2,250, ginnery, seed houses, machinery, engine, and tools used about or in connection with the operation of said ginnery, except the platform scales. (Mr. George Fambrough, a descendant of William T. Fambrough, land owner of the Thomas Holley Chiver’s store.) George Fambrough stated he worked at the Mill in 1921 and stated Mr Flynt managed the mill once it was sold from the Edwards’ Estate. George Fambrough became county commissioner in 1975 and was also a Clerk at the Sandy Cross Baptist Church. Caroline and Rem had one child. Her name was Carolyn Edwards, born December 29, 1922. Carolyn was nine years old when the death of her mother came. Josie Bird remembered, “I remember a little after Rem passed on, Carolyn Edwards moved into the Gee home and remained with her Gee grandparents. Her room was the front one on side towards the Lucas house. There was a pretty stairway. I was never in her room but thought how great it would be to have an upstairs room. Mama ALWAYS had something for us to do...pull grass, whip a hem, stitch awhile she cut her stitch while we cut on and on. We picked up our groceries at Holden & Co. (Neal’s now) and Mama would send us up to get things. We would hurry up a sidewalk Mrs. Gee had and on up those concrete steps. I would see Carolyn sitting in the swing on Gee’s front porch. She could be found sometimes reading, waiting for her grandma or the colored cook to call her in to eat. After going off to college, Carolyn married Frank Hawkins and, had two boys, Carl and William. When weather permitted the Gee’s had guest on the front porch. I remember Carolyn’s oldest son playing in the front yard and making sounds...not words.” Carolyn died March 15, 1997 in Hamilton Medical Center. Rem was an Army veteran of the World War, and a dairy farmer in Taliaferro County. He was inducted in Crawfordville, September 8, 1917, Company G 327 Infantry and became Postmaster for Crawfordville a month after his honorable discharge from the Army. Rem had worked in that office from August 16, 1920 till June 06, 1934. He was engaged in farming, operating the cotton gin and associated with his father in the mercantile business, enjoyed the implicit confidence of all with whom he had business dealings. Rem Edwards expanded his dairy operation to a broader scale in 1925. Cream was bringing a good price and Mr. Edwards was confident of success in the venture. Beginning March 21, 1928 Rem Edwards began the delivery of sweet milk and cream to residence of Crawfordville. Sweet milk was 10 cents per quart, sweet cream 25 cents per pint. Rem married on August 2, 1932 in Hancock Co., Georgia to Opal Vickers, born on October 19, 1899 in Butts County, GA. Rem became ill and had not enjoyed robust health in several months when he died at the age of 43 due to a heart attack on April 1, 1935. When the news spread throughout the county increased shock and sorrow was occasioned by the sad intelligence. He had a large family connection and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. After Rem’s death Opal became Postmaster on April 03, 1935. She moved herself and her infant son from the family home to another home across from the jail house on the Courthouse square. Rem JR was only 6 months old when his father died of a heart attack on April 1, 1935 . Just a little special treat from The Edwards family legacy. Depending of cost of publication this book is due to be released the middle of next year. I am still compiling stories and documents but as of count this book hold 470 pages.