#52Ancestors-Week 32-Youngest: Edward E. Adamson 1857-1879

The topic challenge for Week 32 was "Youngest".  Following the week before when the topic was "Oldest", I am writing about Edward E. Adamson, the youngest child of Allen and Elizabeth Saunders Adamson.

Edward E. Adamson was born in about 1857 in Texas County, Missouri to Allen and Elizabeth Saunders Adamson.  He was the youngest of their twelve children.  Edward's mother, Elizabeth, died in about 1858 when Edward was about one year old.  On the 10th of December in 1858, Peter Saunders, Elizabeth's brother, was named guardian for  the seven children who were under the age of fourteen, including Edward.

Texas County Court Records (Volume 2):
"Friday Dec. 10, 1858:
Guardian
It is ordered by the Court that Peter Sanders be appointed Guardian of the person of Josiah, Isaac, Elijah, John Wesley, Catherine, Mary Ann and Edward E. Adamson, miner (?) heirs of Allen and Elizabeth Adamson, Deceased."
 

In both the 1860 and 1870 census' Edward was living with Charles Mitch and Nancy Saunders Hill.  Nancy Hill was the daughter of George Saunders, Elizabeth's brother.

On the 24th of October in 1875, Edward married Martha "Mattie" Eldridge in Texas County, Missouri.  Both were about eighteen years old. I have found no trace of Edward and his wife after their marriage until this newspaper article.

"August 8, 1879
Prosecuting Attorney Geiger, Dr. BF Morgan, Jackson Davis, CM Hill and Beauregard Ross went to the Hamilton neighborhood up the river to disinter the body of a young man named Adamson who committed suicide on account of troubles with his wife.  Foul play is now suspected." 

Apparently, Edward died.  He was about twenty-two years old.  Was he killed or did he commit suicide?  I have not found any listings for him in cemetery records and was told that there are no coroner records available for Texas County for this time period. I have had researchers check newspapers from that area and time period for more information, but none has been found.  I wonder if Edward and Mattie had any children? I have not found any information about his wife, Mattie.  I believe that she married George Morse in 1880, but have not been able to prove that beyond a doubt.

So both the oldest and the youngest of Allen and Elizabeth Saunders Adamson's children lived short lives.  So sad.