Edson Toomey

Edson Lafayette Toomey (Feb. 8, 1896 – July 19, 1918) was a Helenwood man killed in action in France during World War I.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born Feb. 8, 1896, Edson L. Toomey was the son of John Samuel Toomey (1861-1949) and Elizabeth “Bettie” Phillips (1874-1910) of Helenwood. He had three siblings: Viola Baker (1898-1968), Fred Barthell Toomey (1900-1972) and Herbert Meigs Toomey (1904-1993).

John S. Toomey was a lumberman from New York who moved to Scott County for work. He was elected to the state senate and was instrumental in the effort to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He was the official timber estimator when the federal government acquired the land for the national park.

Bettie Phillips was the daughter of Riley Phillips (1843-1910) and Bettie Chitwood (1851-1940). She was a granddaughter of Jehu Phillips, an early Scott County elected official. Two of her first cousins — Robert Hughett and Lawrence Phillips — were killed in the war on July 18, 1918, the day before her son was killed.

World War I

PFC Toomey enlisted in the U.S. Army at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. on July 20, 1917. He was assigned to Co. G, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division. He was killed during the Aisne-Marne offensive on July 19, 1918. Two of his cousins, Sgt. Robert Hughett and Pvt. Lawrence Phillips, had been killed the previous day during the same offensive.

The 26th Infantry, nicknamed the “Blue Spaders” by the Germans, suffered a heavy toll during the battle. Of the 3,100 Blue Spaders that started the attack at Soissons, on July 18, 1918, just over 1,500 were killed or wounded, including PFC Toomey.

Aftermath

PFC Toomey was interred at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in Fere-en-Tardenois, France. His father, John Toomey, was informed of his death by the U.S. Army.

PFC Toomey’s parents are buried at Potter Cemetery in Huntsville.