EDWARDS, Almos Clyde, was a native of Wayne County, Tennessee, born on his father’s farm which was often called the “Dugger Farm”, which included Natural Bridge.

Clyde was the first son, and the second of eight children, born to his parents, Isaac Calvin EDWARDS (12 July 1856 – 12 March 1940) and Ona Lova “Babe” MEREDITH EDWARDS (11 Feb 1866 – 5 Mar 1942). His paternal grandparents were David L. EDWARDS (4 Feb 1822 – 3 Feb 1904) and S. Amanda GOODWIN EDWARDS (4 Jun 1825 – 26 Dec 1900). Grandfather David was pastor of Salem Primitive Baptist Church near the intersection of Forty Eight Creek and Buffalo River for almost half a century. His maternal grandparents were Lovick Rasberry MEREDITH (1827 – 1898) and Annabelle MATTHEWS MEREDITH (1832 – 1890).

Clyde’s brothers and sisters were Anna Bell (1887 – 1978) who married Lannie COPELAND, Hershcel Lot (1892 – 1951) who married Pearl THOMPSON, Clarence Verne (1894 – 1981) who never married, Harvel Coleman born 1897, who married Roxie RASBURY; Lovick David (1899 – ), who married Naomi GALLAHER; and Grace Pauline (1904 – 1984) who married Briley QUEEN.

The Edwards family moved from the farm on Forty-eight Creek to the Bartley Farm down on Buffalo River. Clarence was born there.

Clyde and Anna Bell went to school on Buck Branch and to Little Hope. It was a few miles; their father carried them on a mule most of the time. Sometimes they would walk with neighbor children.

In 1894 the family moved to Sinking Creek in Perry County, where Harvel and Lovic were born. Clyde and Anna went to school there and one of his teachers was Clovis CHAPPELL of Flatwoods, who later became the famous preacher and writer. In 1899 the family moved back to Wayne County to Moccasin Creek to the “Old Meredith Home” where their mother had been born. The family’s chidren attended Moccasin School where their uncle Lee MEREDITH taught.

In 1905, Calvin bought a farm at Topsy, now known as the Mathis Farm. Clyde, Anna, and brothers attended school at Topsy where Clude had some “top” teachers, Clyde thought. They included the McANALLY brothers; Miss Ida SPRINKLES and Miss Vera RAY.

After Clyde attended the Topsy School, he left for Centerville to attend high school. He lived with his cousin, Wilburn EDWARDS who had two sons: (Dr.) Will and Carl. After his high school days, Clyde went to Hillsboro, Texas to work with his uncle, Lon MEREDITH, on the farm for a few years. He then returned hom and soon left with his sister, who was in ill-health, her husband Lannie COPELAND and their children. They went to the Imperial Valley, California. He worked six months for Jim GALLAHER, a native of Tennessee. When World War I started, he came back to Wayne County to join the army.

This was at the time of general registration of all males between the ages of twenty-one and thirty; later between eighteen and forty-five. 24 million men were registered in the US.

Since Clyde was single, he volunteered for service, knowing he would be drafted. He left home on the 5th of July and took the train from Allens Creek to Nashville by way of Hohenwald and Dickson. His brother, Harvel, Barney C. and Huston “Fate” SKELTON, Rudolph SEALY of Lewis County formerly (who was living with the Harrison SKELTON family) and Marshall McCLAIN, volunteered at the some time.

These boys were given their enlistment papers at Nashville and sent on to Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia where the group was sworn in on 7 July 1917. They were not assigned to recruiting barracks. Carpenters finally finished the barracks and Clyde, with his Wayne County volunteers, was assigned to Company H, 56th US Infantry of the Seventh Division.

About the first of November, Clyde and Harvel were sent to the Supply Company of the regiment on special assignment to try out as mule drivers, as Clyde always loved to drive mules. Harvel didn’t like it and went back to his company.

February 1st, the group began getting ready to go overseas, but Clyde found out his division was really preparing to go to a camp in Texas near Fort Worth. Clyde was promoted to Regimental Supply Seargent before leaving for Texas.

This 7th Dviision trained in Texas for several months and then went to France, arriving in September. They went through Canada from Texas, then to the East Coast to Hoboken, a city in New Jersy on the Hudson River across from New York City. His brother was now in the 3rd Division with Ammunition Train Company D.

The 3rd Division engaged in their first encounter “Aisne – Marne Defensive” . They then started the offensive and drove the Germans back across the Aisne to the Veste River. The next move was to the St. Mihiel sector, where the Germans were driven back, but didn’t take the city.

Clyde’s 7th Division relieved Harvel’s 3rd Division in the St. Mihiel sector. The Germans had kept a large number of prisoners of war there doing some work. The 7th Div. went into line at St. Mihiel about the tenth of September and held the lines until the Armistice, 11 Nov 1918.

After the Armistice, all divisions (including Clyde’s) went toward Germany, but Clude’s 7th division stopped in the Alsace-Lorraine area and the edge of Luxembourg for a few weeks. The annexation of Alsace-Lorraine was one of the aims of the French in World War I.

As the troops in France left for home, the 7th Division moved back until their time came to sail for home, arriving in the United States about the 1st of June 1919. Clyde was told that because of his rank, he would have to stay in the Army until recruits could bring the regiment up to normal strength. He as told he could re-enlist for one year and then get out. He chose to re-enlist and was sent to Camp Function at Manhatten, Kansas. After Harvel was discharged, and on his way to California to get a job, he visited Clyde in Kansas. Clyde had said the weather was very changeable in Kansas and was considered a real northern army camp.

Clyde returned from the Army in 1920 to live with his parents and continue to farm with his father on Upper Green River. He married Pearl HELTON, daughter of Ada and Wayne HELTON in 1923. Soon they went to Miami, Florida for a year or two where they worked.

Upon returning to Wayne County, they settled again on Upper Green River. To them was born a daughter, Clyde Rebecca, who died in infancy. Then on 24 April 1934, a son, Billy Dan, was born at Centerville Hospital. Clyde sold the house he had built and bought his parent’s home and farm as they were returning to Buffalo River. Clyde’s health was not good and he was in and out of the Veteran’s Hosptial in Nashville.

In the meantime he bought a house in Waynesboro and moved. His health worsened, and on 17 July 1965, he passed away at the Wayne County General Hospital, Waynesboro, Tennessee. Funeral services were held at Middle Tennessee Funeral Home with burial in Shields Cemetery, Wayne County, Tennessee.

Two World War 1 Letters From Clyde EDWARDS

[letter 1]
Fifty Sixth U.S. Infantry, Campt McArtur, July 11, 1918

Dear Mother, Will write you a few lines today as I’ve not very busy. Ever[sic] is going nicely here now only its pretty warm here yet yesterday was the hottest day I ever saw this side of Cal. I was over to see Clarence last night, his all right, we see each other most ever night be eithr comes here or I go over there as its only a short distance. I hardley know what to try to write for we hear …

[page 2]
I’m sending my pictures to Pearl this time and a few to Sister have one of myself I’m sending to Pauline. Sent the Co. picture to you. guess though youve all ready got it. You can give Pearl one of the big pictures iff you want to that is iff she wants one. She may not care for them,

Mother tell Father or Herschel that if they could send Clarence and I about $10. or $12.00 we’d be awfully glad to get it as I believe we are going to need it before we get another pay day.

We are on the eve of going now. Just a few days here.

Tell him if he sends it to send it by return mail so will get it.

You know a fellow don’t like to be out of money on a long trip like this. The call for lights to go out – so I’d better begin to close.

Say my Liberty Bonds will be paid out this month and will be sent to you. now they are the familys take them and have them cashed and use them for anything you want them for.

Will write you again in a few days and let you know how things are going. We are all wanting to go.

With love to all I remain as ever your son Clyde.

[page 3]Friday evening
Mother iff you send money send it to Clarence as he will be here longer than I will. a few days anyway. Clarence has just left here I’m not driving any more now, have been checking up on our wagon stuff to day and seeing to turning in stuff.

So you see we are ready Ever man has been working like good fellows to day and seems like they cant wait for the time to start. Tell Father not to put himself to any trouble about the money dont want to be any trouble to him we can make it someway.

[letter 2]

Friday Evening
Camp McArthur

Dear little Sister and family

Pauline received your letter a day or two a go and of course was glad to hear from you.

We, that is Clarence and myself, are at the Y.M.C.A. both writing home Clarence is writing to Herschel and me to you.

I had a letter from Herschel the day I got yours he said Aunt Mollie was dead. I’m so sorry but our time is all coming sooner or later and [page 2] we should be thankful that we’ve been permitted to live as long as we have.

Mother, Herschel said you wasn’t doing much good, also said hed fix up a certificate and get Dr. Buchanan to sign if we could get a pass on it so we have been holding a conference and have decided this may be our loast chance to ever come. So we are going to try it a pop. I’m shure we can come iff we get a Dr’s serttificate.

Haven’t saw or heard from Uncle Lon’s in [page 3] will have to quit for this time as its getting late.

Answer real soon and tell the news Lovic have the grass all out of your corn for I may get to see it sometime soon. Write soon with love to all your bro. Clyde.