The Times of Long Ago, Franklin Gorin, 1877, South Central Ky. Historical & Genealogical Society, Barren Co., KY. A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN WM. EDMUNDS. Captain Edmunds, the son of James Edmunds and Sarah Lavender, his wife, was born in Amherst County, Va., October, 1776. He married Mary Ann Penn, a daughter of Joseph Penn and Frances Burrus, his wife, on the 30th of March, 1805. She was also born in Amherst County, Va., Feb. 11th, 1790. Wm. Edmunds was a successful merchant in New Glasgow, Va. He resided there for several years after his marriage until about 1808, when he purchased a farm in the neighborhood on which he resided until the fall of 1810. In November of that year he arrived in Barren County with his family and a number of slaves, and settled on his thousand acre tract of land on the North side of Beaver Creek in the woods. He immediately commenced opening a farm with the assistance of his slaves, and in 1812 raised ten hogsheads of tobacco, besides provisions for his family and stock. He carried to John Cole's warehouse, on Big Barren River, the first hogshead of tobacco taken there. Some of the neighbors, who saw it on the road, were astonished at the "big barrel" as they called it. He was a Director of the Branch at Glasgow of the Old Bank of Kentucky. He was an able and efficient Justice of the Peace of the county of Barren for a quarter of a centure or more before the present Constitution, and would soon have been entitled to the office of Sheriff of Barren County. He was never engaged in politics except as a private citizen. As a Justice of the Peace he administered the law faithfully, correctly and justly. He would not as far as in his power permit the poor to be oppressed; he had an utter detestation of oppressing either whites or blacks. For the loan of money he would never receive but six per cent, per annum. He never sought office, he believed the office shold seek the man. He loved his farm and was a practical farmer. He was affectionate, humane and kind to his wife, children, neighbors, and especially to the poor and his slaves. He was a quiet, orderly, peace, moral, generous, benevolent man; temperate in all things; a man of strict veracity and honesty. He built, or mainly built, a brick church on his land, near his house. He was a Free Mason and the first Senior Warder of the Allen Lodge in Glasgow. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Church, as was his wife and most of his children. His wife, Mary Ann, died March 3rd, 1846. He died June 21st, 1863, highly respected and lamented. He and his wife had twelve children - five sons and seven daughters - all of whom save one son married. Three of his sons, Charles P., William Henry and Edmund A., a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren are amongst us, and are good and valuable citizens. Edmonds Lavender Penn Burrus Cole = Amherst-VA http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/barren/edmunds.w.txt