Edward J. Cosnahan

b. circa 1812
  • Edward J. Cosnahan was born circa 1812.
  • Rebecca Crosland appeared in the US federal census of 7 August 1820 in Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other (counted but unnamed) members of the household apparently included Edward J. Cosnahan, Joseph Bartholomew Cosnahan, Rebecca Cosnahan, Ann Elizabeth Cosnahan and Sarah Cosnahan. Also in the household was one male age 16-26, possibly extended family or hired help, an overseer?
  • According to the James Marion Mims (1813-1883), at South Carolina College (Columbia) about 1830-1831, a "ghost" was in the habit of appearing "in the shape of a tall man, with a sheet wrapped around him, and a dough face." . . . "Nobody ever knew who that ghost was; it was a profound secret to the ghost and the college boys. But one man was always suspected, and that was a tall, slender fellow, named Cosnahan, from the Peedee District. He was always suspected of being that ghost. /P/ Cosnahan was the only fellow in the college who didn't seem to have a warm bosom friend. He was always treated politely, but nobody loved him. Nobody cared for him. He was a great novel-reader and a great smoker; a dirty-looking fellow, without any of the characteristics that engender enthusiasm."
  • The following appeared in Edward Cosnahan received his AB degree from South Carolina College in 1832, and Joseph B. Cosnahan attended the College in 1838 but left after his freshman year.
  • The following appeared on 19 July 1837 in the Fayetteville Observer: $25 Reward. Strayed or stolen from the Subscriber at Bennettsville, about the 15th of May last, a bald faced Chestnut Sorrel Horse, aged about five years -- about fifteen hands high. The above reward will be given to any person who will deliver said horse to me at Bennettsville, or will be handsomely rewarded if they tell me where he is, so that I can get him again. E. J. Csnahan. Bennettsville, 14th June, 1837.
  • Published in an 1878 History of Bennettsville: Just below the Old Court House, stands Evan's mill, a spot somewhat remarkable, being distinguished as the place where a cotton gin was first run by water, for the accommodation of the public. Mr. Bartholomew Cosnahan is said to have rented the water power and first applied it to that use. . . .
         The name of Mr. Bartholomew Cosnahan having been introduced it is as well to give some account of his family also. He resided on the hill overlooking the swamp in the back part of the field now [1870s] cultivated by Mr. J. C. Powell. The house is now standing. It was a somewhat pretentious building for those times, being two stories high, with double piazza in front. He was twice married, and when he died, left his widow and two sons and two daughters surviving him. One of his sons, Edward J. Cosnahan, a graduate of the South Carolina College, died afterwards in Bennettsville. He was a young man of brilliant talents, and fully qualified to make his mark in the world, had his ambition led him in that direction. The other son Joseph, married in Virginia and after planting a few years in this county, removed to Texas, where his wife died. He afterwards returned to Virginia and married again, and not very long afterward died, leaving a widow and one child, who since the war have immigrated to Marlborough, to make their home. The two daughters married and settled in Alabama--so that this name also, has in the male line entirely disappeared. Mr. B. Cosnahan owned both sides of the road as you pass down by Mr. Powell's store, and his plantation at that time, was, for it size, one of the most valuable in the State. Sometime after his death his widow had a new house built in the corner of her field just opposite Mr. Powell's store, and removed there with her family, but before many years died leaving her children surviving her.
         Adjoining his plantation on the Marion road lived Mr. Alexander Lamb, who had a large family, and considerable estate--and opposite to him lived Mr. James Forniss. Both these names have also disappeared from this county. . . .
  • Last Edited: 13 Jun 2014