Edward Dawson Kornegay was born in La Grange, Fayette, Republic of Texas, the first of five children of David Smith Kornegay and his wife Elizabeth McGary. He was named "Edward" by his mother after her brother Edward McGary who was killed by the Comanche Indians near the mouth of the San Antonio River in 1840 and "Dawson" by his father after Nicholas Moseby Dawson. Nicholas Moseby Dawson was his father's Commander (see David Smith Kornegay) and was killed in the "Dawson Massacre" in September 1842 when the Texas forces enroute to San Antonio were ambushed by Mexican Forces. Nothing is known of his early life, but records survive indicating that he served in the Confederate Army of Mississippi and fought with Co. H, Young's Regiment, 12th Texas Infantry from 1862-1863 and with Co. G, Waller's Regiment, Texas Cavalry from Jan 15, 1864 until Jun 5, 1865. Edward surrendered with Co. G at Marshall, TX on Jun 5, 1865 and went home to Halletsville, TX. He was allowed to keep his horse and three of his friends were: Frank R. Noe from Beebe, AR, William M. "Billy" Schultz from Springfield, MO, and Warwick Jenkins from Waco, TX.

Edward met Mullie Lou Williams and married her Nov 6, 1879 in Halletsville, TX when he was 34 and she was 19. They had a total of eight children.

At age 68, and in apparent good health, Edward died suddenly on his ranch near Eddy, NM. Family oral tradition has it that he had just returned from a two day hunt. His wife opened the gate for him and greeted him. He was in the process of putting away his horse and gathering feed for him when he suddenly collapsed. His wife thought that it was a stroke or heart attack.

She buried Edward at Monument Hill near the DK Ranch. Mullie eventually moved away from Eddy and settled in Hobbs, NM where she died in 1957. In 1960, Edward's son Earl had his remains moved from Monument Hill to Hobbs and reinterred him next to Mullie.

Sources for the information on Edward Dawson Kornegay:

• National Archives and Records Administration Washington, DC
• Kornegay Family Bible 1845-1993 (in 1994, this bible was in the possession of E.D. Kornegay, Sr.)
• Leters of F.R. Noe to E.D. Kornegay 1902-1903 (in 1994, in possession of his grandson)
• Court Records of Fayette and Lavaca Counties, Texas.
• Letters and Personal interview with Dolly Kornegay Randolph in Seagraves, TX on the occasion of her 98th birthday on Aug 31, 1993.