HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes,
Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III,
pp. 1168-69. [Franklin Co.]

THOMAS LEWIS EDELEN--It cannot be denied that the Kentucky bar is one
which has more than its quota of sound and brilliant reasoners and forensic
lights, whose reputation extends far beyond the limits of the state.
Naturally the greatest number of these are to be found in the capital city
and among the most able representatives of the profession in Frankfort is
Thomas Lewis Edelen.  He is a native of Kentucky and like all true
Kentuckians, very loyal to that state which gave him birth.  The scenes
upon which he first opened his eyes were in Harrodsburg, Mercer county, and
the date of his nativity was December 28, 1857.  The parents of Mr. Edelen
were James H. and Mary (Lewis) Edelen, the former a native of Lebanon and
the latter of Harrodsburg, and through their union the Scotch, English and
Welsh elements are mingled in the veins of their son.  The paternal
grandfather, Leonard Edelen, was a native Kentuckian, and his wife bore
the maiden name of Bruce.  Her family was of Scotch origin, as is very
evident by the name, and they had crossed the Atlantic at an early day,
settling first in Virginia and subsequently coming over to Kentucky.  The
great-grandfather Edelen was a native of Maryland and the tracing of the
lineage discovers his forbears living in England.  The Welsh element enters
through the mother of Mr. Edelen, the Lewis family in Kentucky being an
old numerous one, coming originally from Virginia.
     James H. Edelen, the father of Thomas Lewis Edelen, was a drug
merchant, and in 1858, the year following the birth of the subject, he
moved from Harrodsburg to Lebanon, and it was in the latter city that both
he and his wife died.  They were the parents of two children, Mr. Edelen's
sister having become the wife of Mr. J. R. Gilkeson of Lebanon.  Mr.
Edelen passed his boyhood and youth in Lebanon and in private schools was
prepared for college.  In September, 1873, he entered what was then Centre
College, at Danville, Kentucky, and in 1877 he was graduated from that
institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.  His unusual ability was
evident even in his student days, and he received the honors of his class.
He had already come to a conclusion as to his life work and immediately
took up the study of law at Lebanon under William B. Harrison, and in
January, 1879, was licensed to practice law.  He hung out his shingle at
Lebanon and practiced there until 1891, going through the usual
experiences of the young lawyer, winning encouragement even from defeat,
possibly staring at a blank wall for a time in the fashion of the Hon.
Peter Sterling, but eventually finding himself and winning the double
benefit of prestige and practice.  In 1891 he located at Frankfort and his
subsequent career has been most gratifying.  He was in partnership with
former Governor Knott until that gentleman became dean of the law
department of Central University, and for the first three years of his
residence in the capital city he was state reporter of the Kentucky court
of appeals and issued meanwhile volumes 104, 105, 106 and 107 of the
Kentucky Reports.  He eventually formed a partnership with the late United
States senator, William Lindsay, with whom he was associated from 1908
until the death of Senator Lindsay in October, 1909. At present he is
associated with Mr. W. O. Davis in the practice of the law and their
partnership is one of recognized strength and reliability.
     Mr. Edelen is one of Kentucky's prominent Republicans and is very
active in the furtherance of the policies of the party.  His lodge
relations are confined to membership in the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks and he is Presbyterian in religious faith.
     On November 19, 1884, Mr. Edelen forsook the ranks of the bachelors,
taking as the lady to preside over his household Miss Eliza Bull, of St.
Louis, Missouri.  She is a native of St. Louis and a daughter of John C.
Bull.  They have three children: Lida P., J. Leonard and Mary Lewis
Edelen.  Another daughter, Ruth by name, died at the age of four years.
     Mr. Edelen's activities are not confined to the legal profession
and among his other interests in the Capital Trust Company of Frankfort,
of which he is president.

Edelen Lewis Gilkeson Bruce Harrison Sterling Knott Lindsay Davis Bull
=
Harrodsburg-Mercer-KY Lebanon-Marion-KY Danville-Boyle-KY MO MD VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/franklin/edelen.tl.txt