Log Cabin Housed Edens Family for 100 Years(Article in the Charleston Daily Mail in 1971) MARK PAXTON The Daily Mail Staff West Virginia was a section of Virginia when Burden Edens built his home in a hollow in north central Kanawha County. Abe Lincoln was an unknown rail-splitter, and gold rush of 49 was yet to take place The Civil War has come and gone, a peanut farmer from Georgia is president and men have walked the moon. But Edens modest log cabin is still standing in a field north of Charleston. Family members - including Burd Edens grand children, great grandchildren, and great-great grand children - visited the old homestead this weekend to reminice about the three generations of the Edens Family. Family historian Opal Edens of South Charleston, a retired Kanawha County school teacher and other Edens family members say they dont know exactly how old the six-room house is. But they say its been around at least 130 to 140 years. Opal, after years of research through family records and state archives, has determined that Burd and his first wife, Catherin Wimer, migrated to Western Virginia in a mule -drawn wagon from Bedford County in the late 1830s or early 40s. Once he arrived in what was to become the Edens Fork area, he and a friend, Venton Copen, began to build the Edens house. When he built the house, he put a rock foundation under it, Opal said. There was a row of logs on it, and Burd decided he wanted to move it. he told Venton, You know, I think Id like it over in the next hollow. Venton looked and said hed do it for a dollar more. Burd said it was too damn much so he left it where it was. Burd had three wives and 11 children. Their descendants have remained in the Charleston area throughout the years. Marshall Edens, Opals wife and the great-grandson of Burd, walked through the deteriorating house, about a mile-and-a-half from Interstate 77 at the Edens Fork exit. Heat for the house, with its oak roof and cedar and hemlock walls, came from a single fireplace, he explained. Back in the days when people lived like this, they didnt pay attention to 30 degrees, said the 71 year old man. Lula French, Marshalls 69 year old aunt, was the last Edens sill alive to have lived in the old structure. Since her father died in the early 1950s the cabin has remained empty. Today, the ancient building, surrounded by chest-high weeds, is showing its age. Large gaps have appeared between the logs where the orginial mortar has disappeared. Part of the living room floor is collapsing. The front door hangs open, its hinges broken and rusted. Family members say theyd like to save the old house, but some are afraid its too late. Its pretty well delapidated, Lula said. My cousin says hes going to tear it down and move it over to his place, but I dont think he can do much. Its pretty well shot. Opal agreed that the building is in bad shape, and said she believes it can be saved. It could be restored, she said. The windows, of course are broken.. An old screen door is swinging loose. Theres a hole in the kitchen roof. Itd be right expensive. But you know, the logs are just like they were when they were put in --excellent condition. You dont realize this when youre young, she said. You dont pay attention. But then you wake up and all of a sudden youre old. Burden Brammer Edens was my 1st cousin 5x removed.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 14:21:45 +0000
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