Oliver Evans Edwards

He was born in Spartanburg , grew up in Georgia, and returned to Spartanburg when he was grown and selected the law as his profession.

In 1850 he was elected colonel of the 36th Regiment of South Carolina Militia, which his father had commanded for many years before. Prior to his promotion he was captain. In 1854 he was chosen to the office of brigadier-general of the 9th Brigade, South Carolina Militia (SCM), which position he held for many years before the war between the states.

He was elected to the [State] House of Representatives from Spartanburg district; first in 1856, and also in 1858 and 1860. While he was in the legislature, the State called for the convention which adopted the famous ordinance of secession.

Sometime after June of 1861, he joined the 5th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers and was present at the First Battle of Manassas. After this battle, he heeded the voice of Jefferson Davis and returned to his home county and helped organize 5 companies of Spartanburg County men for service in the CSA [, these becoming part of the 13th Infantry] and was commissioned Colonel.

He commanded the regiment in Maryland.

He was wounded at Chancellorsville on May 3, 1863; he lived until the 21st of June of 1863. His wife had come to Virginia and was transporting him by train back to Spartanburg when he became so weak that he was lifted from the train at Goldsboro, NC, and carried to a friend's house and there died.

Source: Dr. Landrum's, The History of Spartanburg County,1900, quoted online at a fine site on the 13th SC Infantry. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

11/9/1819; Spartanburg District, SC

06/21/1863; Goldsboro, NC; burial in Willow Dale Cemetery, Goldsboro, NC