Reuben Elijah Edens was born on Sunday, April 8, 1888 in Lee County, Virginia to parents Simeon Patton Edens (1863-1949) and Rutha Della Brim Edens (1863-1937) as their second or third of 10 children, having been born with a fraternal twin sister, Florida Flair. All nine of Reuben's siblings have memorials on this site and are linked below.

Reuben's middle name originated from his great-grandfather, Elijah Edens, which was passed down to his son (Reuben's grandfather), Elijah Edgar Edens. Reuben was known to spell it as "Eliga."

Reuben wed Hassie Melvina Vandeventer on October 4, 1907 in McKinney, Texas. They settled down in the Ozarks of northwest Arkansas, where's Reuben's family had relocated from Virginia, and produced 12 children between 1908 and 1928:

Thurman Edgar (1908-1962)
Bertha Jewel (1909-1910)
Maynard Henderson (1911-2001)
Ruby Opal (1912-2005)
Kline Henry (1914-2005)
Cathleen Berta (1916-2012)
Simeon Corneilus (1918-2013)
Samuel Enoch (1920-2011)
Martha Jane (1922-2016)
Birdie Pearl (1924-2018)
Dovie Lois (1926-1929)
Amos Leman (1928-)

Four and a half years after they wed, Reuben's younger sister, Maude Edens, married Hassie's younger brother, Elmer Floyd Vandeventer.

Reuben was truly the living definition of "resourceful." To support his large family over the years, Reuben farmed, cut timber and made railroad ties, had a shoe shop and general store at one time, then bought a grist water mill to grind corn meal and wheat flour for the community. He also tanned goat and cow hides to make saddles and shoes. Reuben did all these things yet never learned to drive.

Reuben and Hassie were married 72 years until her passing in 1979. For several years after Hassie's death, Reuben lived next door to his daughter, Cathy, in Big Flat, Arkansas. He lived to age 98, passing away on November 25, 1986 at a nursing home in Marshall, Arkansas from complications after a major stroke. Reuben had survived all his siblings except younger sister Ettie Burnett, who lived on to age 104. Reuben would be laid to rest next to his beloved wife at what is now known as Freck Cemetery.

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U.S. Census listings (spellings kept intact):

1900 - 14th Civil District, Hancock County, Tennessee
   Simeon Edens, Head, M, 36, b. VA
   Rutha Edens, Wife, 36, b. VA
   Hiram Edens, Son, 15, b. VA
   Reuben Edens, Son, 12, b. VA
   Florida Edens, Daughter, 12, b. VA
   Eller Edens, Daughter, 10, b. VA
   Ettie Edens, Daughter, 9, b. VA
   Albert Edens, Son, 7, b. VA
   Maudia Edens, Daughter, 5, b. VA
   William S. Edens, Son, 3, b. VA
   Bobie Edens, Son, 5 mo., b. VA

1910 - Lincoln twnshp, Madison Co., Arkansas
   Reuben Edens, Head, M, 22, b. VA
   Hassie Edens, Wife, 18, b. VA
   Thurman Edens, Son, 1, b. AR

1920 - Hasty, Newton Co., Arkansas
   R. E. Edens, Head, M, 31, b. VA
   Hassie Edens, Wife, 21, b. VA
   Thomas Edens, Son, 11, b. AR
   Manard Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
   Ruby Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
   Cline Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
   Catholine Edens, Daughter, 3, b. AR
   Corneford Edens, Son, 1, b. AR

1930 - Liberty, Marion Co., Arkansas
   Rubin Edens, Head, M, 41, b. VA
   Hassie Edens, Wife, 38, b. VA
   Manard Edens, Son, 19, b. AR
   Cline Edens, Son, 15, b. AR
   Catholine Edens, Daughter, 14, b. AR
   Cornelius Edens, Son, 12, b. AR
   Sam Edens, Son, 10, b. AR
   Martha Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
   Birdie Edens, Daughter, 5, b. AR
   Amos Edens, Son, 1, b. AR

1940 - Hampton, Marion Co., Arkansas
   Ruben Edens, Head, M, 52, b. VA
   Hassie Edens, Wife, 49, b. VA
   Cline Edens, Son, 26, b. TX
   Sam Edens, Son, 20, b. AR
   Martha Edens, Daughter, 17, b. AR
   Birdie Edens, Daughter, 15, b. AR
   Amos Edens, Son, 11, b. AR

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