Edward Henry Pressley was a son of Enoch B. Pressley and Mary E. Barrington, born 3 November, 1845 in Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia. (Edward Henry Pressley’s Texas Death Certificate states that he was born in Edgefield County, South Carolina; however, his Civil War service records indicate that he was born in Bartow County, Georgia. Additionally, the book entitled, History of Texas Together With a Biographical History, confirms that he was born in Cartersville, Barstow County, Georgia. However, this same book also contradicts his year of birth stating that he was born in 1843 – not 1845 as per his Texas Death Certificate.)
- Edward Henry Pressley – from the collection of Carol Kay Morrison Wolfe
Edward served the Confederacy in the Civil War. He enlisted in Bartow County, Georgia in March of 1861 as a private and was later promoted to full Corporal. He was a member of Co. H – 60th Georgia Infantry. Edward lost a portion of his left hand when he was shot by a mini-ball. Edward was captured in Virginia and taken prisoner and was present on the day of surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia on 9 April 1865.
- Confederate Muster Roll Card
After the war, on 5 May 1868 Edward Pressley married Sarah “Sallie” T. McKie in Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi. Sarah McKie was a daughter of a Mississippi planter. Sarah graduated from the University of Mississippi at Oxford. The couple had one son, Edward Ward Tupper Pressley born in 1869. By 1880 the family was in Texas – Hamilton County. Sallie died there in about 1880-81.
- Sallie McKie – Photo is from the collection of Carol Kay Morrison Wolfe
On September 1, 1884, Edward married Martha Isabell Curbow Hodges Bedwell in McLennan County, Texas. Edward and Belle had two children: Jennie May in 1889 and Walter Gordon in 1891. Nothing much is known about either of these two children. I would like to be in touch with anyone that has any information on them.
According to the book entitled, History of Texas – Together with a Biographical History (page 635), Edward and Belle are living in Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas in 1895 where Edward is a “merchant.”
In the 1900 census the family is in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas where the family is indexed as “hotel keepers.”
By 1908 Edward and Bell are in San Antonio. There I find them in various city directories and census records for the remainder of their lives.
Edward died at the age of 81 on 31 Jul 1927 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. He is laid to rest near his wife in Mission Burial Park.
OBITUARY: Published San Antonio Express, Monday, 1 Aug 1927, Page 11: PRESSLEY – Edward Henry Pressley, aged 81 years, died at his residence, 134 Beldon Avenue, at an early hour Sunday morning. Besides his widow, Mrs. Belle Pressley, he is survived by his daughter, Mrs. C. T. Harper and his son, W. G. Pressley, all of San Antonio. Funeral services will be held from the Porter Loring Chapel, Monday, Aug 2nd at 4 o’clock. Dr. A. E. Rector of Harlandale Methodist Church.
- Edward Henry Pressley with wife Martha Isabell Curbow – Photo from collection of Carol Kay Morrison Wolfe
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Jan Shaffer
March 5, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Oh, what I would give to have a 1890 census on this family. Bell’s children were very small when she and Edward married. That would mean Edward would have been the father figure for the Bedwell children. However the first census to be found was 1900 and the Bedwell children are not living with them. Will married Olive in 1901 in Waco when he was 20 years old. I guess male children were considered grown around 16 in those days so they could have been making their own way but a 1890 census would sure help clear that up..
Judy Curbow
March 5, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Yes! It would be so important…especially on this family. I still wonder how both Bedwell boys ended up in Tarrant County. Somewhere in those lawsuit papers – in the back of my mind – I remember reading that “the Plaintiffs live in Tarrant County.” Tracing Bell in those years – I feel sure – will lead us to Tilman. Waco to Hillsboro to Cleburne to Tarrant County and then finally to San Antonio. If we only knew what transpired during those years.
Judy
Carol Morrison Wolfe
June 7, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Judy, Edward Ward Tupper Pressley, (son of Edward Henry Pressley and Sallie McKie),married Burmah Chambers Messer in Hamilton, Texas, then they moved to Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.
Also, Sallie McKie had family in Waco and then in Salado, Texas. Without looking up records, I remember one of the McKie boys, (probably a cousin), ran the Waco newspaper. Even though the Curbow/Pressley boys were half siblings with Edward W. Pressley, they may been close and wanted to live in the same area – Ft. Worth.
Edward W.’s girls, Cecil, Ruby-Lee, Doris & Burmah, always kept in touch with the McKie kin folks in Waco and in Salado.
Judy Curbow
June 8, 2011 at 5:35 am
Thanks Carol! It’s good to hear from you. This is such an interesting family, don’t you think? I am still searching for the death date and loation of Martha Isabell Curbow Bedwell Pressley’s father, Tilman Curbow. I always keep Fort Worth in the back of my head because I know so many of his grandchildren ended up there. Maybe one of these days I’ll solve that mystery.