Biography
Reuben Edwards was born about 1833, possibly in Virginia. He married Francis Burchett on December 14, 1864, while a soldier in Louisa, Lawrence County Kentucky. Francis was the daughter of William Burchett and Frances Emily Auxier. Children of Reuben and Francis were: John born April 16, 1874, Nannie born April 3, 1877 and Rebecca born May 2, 1880.
Reuben enlisted in the 39th Kentucky on the 18th of August 1863 at Louisa, Kentucky and was assigned to Company K. He was mustered-out with the rest of his company on September 15, 1865 at Louisville. During the war Reuben fell ill and was afflicted with measles and rheumitism. The rheumatism appears to have affected him for the rest of his life. In 1890 he filed for an invalid pension, #725,947. Reuben Ray, a resident of Pike County Kentucky and former soldier of the 39th testified on behalf of Reuben Edwards. The following is a part of that deposition:
Reuben Edwards while in the line of his duty, at or near Lick Creek in the State of Kentucky did, on or about the ?? day of December, 1863, become disabled in the following manner, viz: While in camp at Lick Creek, Lawrence County Kentucky I often heard the claimant complain of rheumatism of the knees, elbows and shoulders. Claimant was also taken down with measles at the same time and place above mentioned and took a severe cold which settled on his lungs which caused him to have a troublesome cough.
Hamilton Swetnam, Assistant Surgeon for the 39th, also testified that he had treated Reuben during the war and afterwards.
Reuben and family were living in Joplin, Jasper County Missouri in the 1880's. He appears in the 1890 Special Census of that county. He died there on the 9th of March 1899.
Information courtesy of Brian E. Hall.