A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
NameTimothy Needham Edson 
55
Birth20 Aug 1838, Muddy Point, Coles Co, Illinois11
Death11 Nov 1864, St Louis, St Louis Co, Missouri11 Age: 26
BurialJefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St Louis Co, Missouri411,13
FlagsCivil War
Spouses
Birth18 Sep 1841, Sangamon Co, Illinois11
Death9 Jul 1930, Martinsville, Harrison Co, Missouri11 Age: 88
BurialBrooklyn Cemetery, Brooklyn, Harrison Co, Missouri412
ReligionMethodist Episcopal11
Marriage10 Aug 1857, Harrison Co, Missouri13
Notes for Timothy Needham Edson
Timothy Needham Edson, namesake of his mother's uncle, was sixteen years old when he immigrated with his parents to Missouri.
Timothy and Caroline Bridges were married by Rev. Samuel Sanderfer. They built a log cabin home on eighty acres two miles southwest of Snell's Mill (now Brooklyn, Missouri). Tim won many of the rail splitting contests in the county. On the day their son, Isaac, was born, Timothy Edson went to the home of John Cutright and requested John Cutright's wife, Margaret, to come to his home and assist Nancy Melville with the delivery of his child.
Then came the Civil War and Tim enlisted on August 29, 1862, at Bethany, in the 2nd Mo. Cav. Reg't B, Merrill's Horse. He was mustered in the service at Hudson, Missouri, and served under Capt. Henry K. Bennett. Tim took the handgun, which he had made, with him when he left for the war. He was considered the best marksman in his company, and was the only man in his company who could lift a railroad tie.
He was in the Post Hospital at Duval 's Bluff, Arkansas, September 22nd through October of 1864. He was moved to St. Louis and on November 16th he died. What happened? As told by his brother, Levi Edson, just two days before -- Tim and a number of others were on furlough. They had reached St. Louis, but there was an epidemic of measles among the troops, so all were held. Tim became ill with the measles. Levi Edson visited Tim in his tent on the evening of the 15th. He was very homesick and all he talked about was getting home. Levi was not alarmed about his condition, as he seemed to be getting along fine, but the next morning Tim died. Levi said, "Poor Tim made it through all the battles and skirmishes then the measles got him. More soldiers died of illness than were killed on the battlefields". Tim was probably in a weak condition from his resent illness in Arkansas. The military records show he died of diarrhea and starvation.
After Tim left for the war, Caroline tried bravely to carryon alone, but the hardships were overwhelming. Then too, this was raw frontier country and many terrifying events were taking place in the country. Therefore, Caroline decided to move in with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Levi Edson (Harriet). Harriet's father had died and her mother and some of her sisters were living with her. Caroline and Harriet, to provide more living space, dismantled Caroline's log cabin home and with oxen and chains dragged the logs to Harriet's place. The two pioneer mothers with the help of an elderly man using oxen and chains reconstructed the log cabin alongside Harriet's. It was said by the old timers that Caroline was as strong as a mule. Much has been written about feats of strength of the husky men of the frontier but littie about the feats of strength of the frontier mothers.
Caroline and Harriet heard from their soldier husbands about every two months. One morning little Ike Edson ran off and attempted to follow his mother through the timber to the post office at Snell's Mill. He was not found until dusk! Numerous searchers from the countryside and from Snell's Mill had answered the call for help in the frantic search. Little Ike was found sitting in a pile of leaves by a log contentedly playing with a stick. Little Ike had heard his mother talking of the expected letter. All he would say when found was, "Go help mama get letter from papa." Little Ike was in great danger that day as wild animals and snakes infested the timber.
Following the end of the war Caroline Edson went to her relatives in Polk County, Missouri. She married Ransom Divine Hook of Boliver. Caroline and Timothy Edson had known the Hook family ten years. Later they purchased a farm near Martinsville, Missouri. Mr. Hook had served in Co. E, 8th Reg't. Mo. State Militia Cav., during the war. Caroline and Ramsom Hook had five children; Sylvanus Asbury, Robert W., Sylvia S., Essie Dulsie, and Hallie Dell.
Caroline's roll in the community perhaps could be called that of a doctor. Her services and advice were sought by many both near and far. Many preferred her services to that of a regular doctor. It is known she saved numerous lives after a doctor had despajred of the patients recovery. Caroline depended entirely upon herbs gathered from the woods, pastures, along the creek banks, and in the garden for her medicinal concoctions. Many of these same herbs are processed today by pharmaceutical houses.
Caroline was a kindly, respected woman, and the Edsons were very fond of her.413