Latest update: Friday, 09 October, 2015
Find details, photos, and sources in the Family Tree Database.
"Posterity!
You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom!
I hope you will make good use of it!"
John Adams (1735-1826) Second U.S. President
in letter to his wife, Abigail Adams, April 26, 1777
Current research indicates eleven (11) EDGARS (related to James and Selah) participated in U. S. military service and two (2)
gave their lives during service. Find details, photos, and sources in the Family Tree Database.
** Gave his life during military service
War of 1812, 1812 - 1815
John EDGAR
1763 - 1843
• War of 1812: John Edgar: Commissioned ensign in militia, 27 regiment, in 1808. No further information
[Some indication that this man may have lived in Hickman County later.]”
(War of 1812 Soldiers of Maury Co, TENNESSEE [book], Editor, Jill K. Garrett, page 56)
• War of 1812 “John Edgar -- 1808. Ensign in militia in 1808.”
(The Maury Genealogist [book], Maury County, TENNESSEE, Jill K. Garrett, Editor)
Texas War of Independence, 02 October 1835 to 21 April 1836
•• Joseph Smith EDGAR **
1818 - 1837
• "He enlisted in Capt. Peyton Splane's Company on 26 Feb 1836 and served in Capt. Robert Calder's
Infantry Company K, 1st Regiment Texas Volunteers, at the Battle of San Jacinto and through 26 May 1836...
He was in the Battle of San Jacinto of the Texas Revolutionary War "but died of battle wounds before he had
located his colonization land grant of a third of a league of land."... According to Dixon and Kemp in Heroes
of San Jacinto he died in 1837 at the home of Capt. James G. Swisher in Washington County, TX.
• "... Joseph S. Edgar came to Texas in November, 1835. In Service Record No. 6488 it is certified that he enlisted
in Captain Peyton R. Splane's Company February 26, and was discharged at (Sylvanus) Hatch's on the east side
of the Lavaca May 26, 1836...He was a member of Captain Robert S. Calder's company at San Jacinto...
Mr. Edgar died at the home of James G. Swisher near Independence, Washington County, in 1837."
(San Jacinto Museum of History)
• "Edgar, Joseph S - Wounded in Battle"
(USGENWEB ARCHIVES; TEXAS REVOLUTION; Battle of San Jacinto Veterans & Casualties - April 21, 1836;
Contributed by: Joan Renfrow)
US War with Mexico, 1846 -1848
On 11 May 1846, United States declared war with Mexico due to hostilities over Texas.
October 1819 - 12 Sep 1906
Edgar Family Cemetery, DeWitt County, TEXAS
• On 24 July 1846, in Austin, Texas, John began a six month tour of duty in the U. S. Army, Texas Mounted
Volunteers, Grumbles' Company. Due to changes in enlistment requirements, this first tour ended on
23 September 1846. A day later, 24 September 1846, in Austin, Texas, John Edgar began a twelve month
tour of duty with the same U. S. Army, Texas Mounted Volunteers, Grumbles' Company. His second tour
ended 23 September 1847, and once again John re-enlisted for a third tour of duty with the U. S. Army, Texas
Mounted Volunteers, McCullough's Company. On 04 July 1848, peace was ratified by United States and
Mexico, and on 08 December 1848, John ended his third and last tour of duty in McCullough's Station, Texas.
• Mexican War Company Muster-out Roll: 1846
John Edgar, Sgt. - Capt. Grumble's Co. (1st Service), Texas Mounted Vols.
Camp near Austin, Texas Sept. 23, 1846.
Muster-out date Sept. 23, 1846.
When enrolled July 24, 1846, for 6 mos., Where enrolled Austin, Texas
• Mexican War Company Muster-in Roll: 1847
John Edgar, Pvt. - Capt. McCulloch's Co. (2nd Service), Bell's Reg't Texas Mounted Vols.
Age 28 [abt 1819]
Appears on Co. Muster-in Roll Austin, Texas, Muster-in date Oct. 25, 1847.
• Mexican War Company Muster-out Roll: 1848 - John Edgar, Pvt - Capt. McCulloch's Co. (3rd Service),
Bell's Reg't Texas Mounted Vols.
Age 29 years [abt 1819]
Appears on Co. Muster-out Roll, dated McCulloch's Station, Texas Dec. 8, 1848. Muster-out date Dec. 8, 1848.
• Claim of a Survivor of the Mexican War for Pension, 18 March, 1887
Claim of a Survivor of the Mexican War for Pension
This must be Executed before a Court of record or some Officer thereof having Custody of Seal
State of Texas, County of DeWitt SS. On this 18th day of March, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty
seven [1887] personally appeared before me C. C. Howetton, District Clerk (Name of Officer who administers
the oath.) in and for the county and the State aforesaid, the same being a Court Record John Edgar aged 66
years [abt 1821], a resident of near Hochheim, County of DeWitt State of Texas, who, being duly sworn according
to law, declares that he is the identical John Edgar (Name of officer, soldier, sailor, or marine.), who served the
full period of one year or 365 days in the Cavelry [sic] (Military or Naval) service of the United States in the war
with Mexico, who enlisted under the name of John Edgar as a Private (His Rank] in the company [blank] of
Captain Henry E. McCulloch Volunteer Cavelry [sic] in the [blank] regiment, which was commanded by
Colonel P. H. Bell and was honorably discharged as a Private at Hamilton's Valley the 22nd day of October
1848; that during said service the said soldier accompanied his command into Mexico, and participated in the
following engagements:
I was in the service under Capt or Maj Tom I Smith in 1846, when Col Curtis
called on our Governor for troops to clear the road from Camargo to
Monteray — and my company commanded by Capt John Drumbles
[correct name was Captain John Grumbles]
with Capt H. C. McCullough and Capt. T.
Smith vols Comps were ordered to do so. We went to San Antonio where we
were reorganized and Capt T. I. Smith was placed in command and we drew
rations from the United States Commissary — and went in to Mexico as far as
Mier when I was detailed to go with Lieut Edmonson on to Monteray — and on
my return to Texas was mustered out. And on 23 Oct 1847 I was again
mustered in to Capt McCulloughs company and was assigned on the frontier
of Texas until the 22nd day of Oct 1848.
… and since his discharge from said service, he has resided as follows:
in Austin in the employ of the Quarter Master's department in 1848 & 9 and
from there went with Capt French quarter Master of the San Anton in the
years 1849 and 1850. when I went to Austin and took employment as wagon
yard master under Lieut Tree(?) which position I held for some two or three
years — since then I have lived in various places in Texas — for the last 20 odd
years in DeWitt County Texas.
• Pension Application to Commissioner of Pensions, War Dept, April 1908, for Mexican War
• Pension Application, Dept. of Interior to/from War Dept, May 1908, for Mexican War
• “John Edgar, brother of Joseph, came to Texas in about 1840 and served in the United States Army
under Benjamin McCullough in the Mexican War." (San Jacinto Museum: Veteran Biographies)
US Civil War, 1861 - 1865
01 Dec 1821 - 22 Jul 1908
* 2d. Lt. with Captain M.G. Jacobs in the Concrete Home Guard
(History of DeWitt County [book])
01 Jan 1826 - 08 Oct 1912
James D. was a veteran of the Confederate Army during the US Civil War,
according to the 1910 Census of DeWitt Co,TEXAS.
14 Jul 1828 - 16 May 1900
* “He served in the cause of the south in the Civil War and received an honorable discharge at its close.”
(Obituary of Joshua N. EDGAR, Cuero Daily Record, 22 May 1900, Cuero, DeWitt County,
TEXAS.)
(August 1830)
• “Hyman Edgar was a veteran of the Civil War having served with Captain M.G. Jacobs in the
Concrete Home Guard." (Sons of DeWitt Colony Texas)
• Hyman T. Edgar 2nd Lieut. Texas Frontier Regiment of Mounted Volunteers 1862
(Military Record: Muster Roll of Captain J.J. Dix's Company; Texas Frontier
Regiment of Mounted Volunteers, 30th day of July 1862)
• Company J (K*)
Captain John. J. Dix (March 6, 1862 - February 15, 1863)
Captain Robert M Whiteside (February 2, 1863 - May 26, 1865)
2nd Lieutenant Hyman T. Edgar, commanding attachment
Ranging District: Uvalde County with headquarters at Camp Dix and Edgar's detachment at Camp Nueces
(April 1862); Throckmorton and Stephens Counties with headquarters at Camp Cooper and
detachment at Camp Breckenridge (September 1863)' Palo Pinto County with headquarters at Camp
Rowland (October 1863); Northern Division with headquarters at Fort Belknap (March 1864);
Confederate Eastern Sub-District with headquarters at Camp Gillespie near Harrisburg (August 1864)
and Camp Groce near Hempstead (September 1864); Confederate Northern Sub-District with
headquarters at Camp McCord (October 1864 - May 1865)
Company assigned to Lt-Col. J. B. Barry's Northers Division (March 1864) and Lt-Col. J. B. Barry's Battalion
(July 1864)
(The Texas Rangers: A Registry and History by Darren L. Ivey, page 122)
• Company F
Captain Jacob Kuchler (February 12 - March 4, 1862)
Company dissolved and reorganized by order of Gov. F. R. Lubbock
Captain Henry T. Davis (March 4, 1862 - February 7, 1863)
Captain Hyman T. Edgar (February 14, 1863 - April 1865?)
Ranging District: Mason and Gillespie Counties with headquarters at Camp Llano and detachment at Camp
Davis (March 1862); Uvalde County with headquarters at Camp Dix (February 1863); Southern Division
with headquarters at Forn Inge (March 1864); Confederate Western Sub-District with headquarters at
Columbus (May 1864) and at camp on Clear Creek near Prairie Point (June 1864); Confederate Eastern
Sub-District with headquarters at Camp Gillespie near Harrisburg (August 1864); Confederate Central
Sub-District with headquarters at Camp Felder (October 1864), camp near La Grange (November 1864),
and Velasco (April - May 1865)
Company Assigned to Maj. W. J. Alexander's Southern Division February 1863) and Col. J. E. McCord's Battalion
(May 1864)
(The Texas Rangers: A Registry and History by Darren L. Ivey, page 121)
Benjamin Franklin Washington EDGAR
(1835 - 1909)
• "PVT Co. H Texas State Troops CSA" (Hillside Cemetery, Cuero, DeWitt Co, TEXAS)
• Private, Texas Frontier Regiment of Mounted Volunteers 1862
(Muster Roll of Captain J.J. Dix's Company Texas Frontier Regiment of Mounted
Volunteers, 30th day of July 1862)
• “Benjamin Franklin W. Edgar was a member of Company H., Texas State Troops,
during the Civil War." (The History of DeWitt County, Texas by Patsy Goebel and Sons of DeWitt Colony Texas)
World War 2, 1939 - 1945
** John Burns EDGAR **
15 Dec 1914 - 01 Oct 1944
• “Texas 1 Lt. 48 Armd. Inf BN 5 Armd Div, World War II”
(Headstone, Hillside Cemetery, Cuero, DeWitt Co, TEXAS)
• “One son, John Burns Edgar, gave his life for his country during World War II.”
(Obituary, 06 January, 1953 of Edgar, Joseph Smith, father of John Burns Edgar)
James Douglas "Jack" EDGAR
22 Nov 1910 - 04 Dec 1989
• US Army, Cpl, WWII (The Johns Family History Association Genealogies, Ancestry.com)
• “Lt. Col. J. D. Edgar now stationed in Trieste, Italy”
(Obituary, 06 January, 1953 of Edgar, Joseph Smith, father of J. D. Edgar)
James Darden "J. D." EDGAR
1921 - 1983
• Cpl US Army, World War II (Headstone, Hillside Cemetery, Cuero, DeWitt Co, TEXAS)
Korean War, 1950 - 1953
Joe Frank EDGAR
24 Dec 1932 - 22 May 1997
• BM2 US Navy, Korea (Footstone, Hillside Cemetery, Cuero, DeWitt Co, TEXAS)