A Shieldsman In Texas

Date: 15 Jun 1904 [unknown]
Location: South Shields, England
Surnames/tags: Edgar South_Shields Austin

A SHIELDSMAN IN TEXAS. Shields Daily Gazette |15-June-1904 |British Newspaper Archive

From Texas across the Pacific to Victoria, Australia, and back again to England,has come to me news of an old Shieldsman whose name will still be familiar to the older generation of my readers.

It will be remembered that a month or two ago there was published the "Gazette" a very interesting letter from the Rev. Duncan Fraser, first headmaster of the Barnes School. This letter came under the notice of the Shieldsman to whom I now refer, Mr John C. Edgar , of Elmdale Ranch, Austin, Texas, who addressed an interesting note recalling early days of the Barnes School, to his old master, who has favoured me with a copy. Mr Edgar, whose father was farm steward for the late James Stevenson, was one of the earliest scholars at the Barnes School.

After leaving school he served a five years' apprenticeship with the late Mr John Fenwick, draper, of King Street, and at the age of 19 went to London and entered wholesale house in Cheapside.

Six years later he started business in South Shields on his own account, first in Green Street, afterwards in the Market Place, where he carried on business until 1880.

Mr Edgar took considerable interest in public affairs, was an active member of the Volunteer Force from its formation in 1859 until he left the town in 1880, when he retired after 21 years' service, with the rank of captain.

He was also for several years a member of the Town Council, the Board of Guardians, the Burial Board, and other public bodies, and on leaving the town was entertained to a public banquet and presented with an illuminated address as a mark of esteem for his public service.

Mr Edgar left South Shields for a widely different sphere of life to that in which he had hitherto been engaged, and for the past 24 years has been a prosperous ranch owner in the States. His sons are all settled in business and doing well in various parts of Texas, and two of his daughters are married to neighbouring farmers.

The letter is another illustration of the fact that Shieldsmen and the "Shields Gazette" are to be found the world over.

ODD MAN OUT.