Eddie Fulton Mize

Eddie F. Mize, son of Andrew Jackson (Uncle Jack) Mize, was born 8 May 1891 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Eddie married Emma Bryant on 22 March 1911 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Emma was born during the year 1891 in the same county. She was the daughter of Lucian Bryant. Emma lived with Edd from 1911 until she died in 1932. Eddie then married the daughter of Willis and Sarah Mounce on 18 January 1936 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Elva Mounce was born at White Lily also located in Pulaski County. Her relatives owned a dry cleaning business located in Somerset. Paul A. Mize met the Mounce family after being invited to a money raising dinner at White Lily.

This anecdote was told to me by Eula Stone, daughter of Walter and Minnie Lay. She said that Ed Mize was a big man who was quite jovial but quick tempered. He loved to eat rabbit, squirrel and was particularly fond of fried potatoes. He loved to eat. Ed consumed a lot of alcohol which was in tradition of the Mize family and its relatives. He was a learned man of metallurgy and incorporated this practice into repairing guns which he traded and bartered. His trade of gun smithing was learned from his father, Uncle Jack Mize. Ed always kept a drawer full of repaired pistols inside his house to trade. Ed worked in the town of Somerset, Kentucky which is south of his home located in Science Hill. He would hop the train going to work which passed through the small town of Science Hillduring the mornings and evenings to travel back and forth to Somerset. Ed slipped off of the train and fell onto the rails on a short incline near Norwood which is located about a half a mile away from Science Hill. Both of his legs were severed above the knees in this accident.

This is a sketch of Science Hill , Kentucky 1983 The Ed Mize house has been razed and replaced with a new business. The Science Hill Motel still stood as of 2010.

On the 1920 Census of Pulaski County, Edd and Emma are listed as living with Uncle Jack. Edd’s son, Robert Lee who is listed as 3 3/4 years of age is also living with them. Edd is listed as a cripple in the household and 27 years of age. Because of his handicap, Ed worked as the first telephone exchange operator at the switchboard in Science Hill. The 1930 Census states he was 39 years old when he worked there. The switchboard exchange was located where the present local bank stands today. When Ed was not working at the exchange, he devoted his spare to repairing watches. Ed’s first marriage was to Emma Bryant, daughter of Lucian Bryant. They were married on 21 March 1911. Emma died sometime during the year 1935. Their only child was Robert Lee Mize. A family tradition concerning the name of this young boy states that he was nicknamed Eddy Carl Robert Lee Mize after his uncles. His formal name is Robert Lee Mize.

Ed married Elva Mounce after the death of Emma Bryant. Emma was buried in the Science Hill Cemetery located at Science Hill, Pulaski County, Kentucky. Ed married Elva Mounce on 18 January 1936 in Somerset, Kentucky. Elva gave birth to a daughter which they named Dora. When Dora was in her mid twenties she moved away from Somerset to the state of Indiana.

This is the marriage certificate of Eddie F. Mize and Emma Bryant which is located at the Pulaski County Courthouse, Somerset Kentucky. Edd died a penniless man. When he died, his house was sold for payment of back taxes. His death was the result of a massive heart attack which he suffered at his home. Upon his death, his neighbors helped put his body in a pick up truck to bury it in the Mount Zion Cemetery which is located at Science Hill, Kentucky. There was a small funeral service and a wooden cross was placed on the grave site. The cross has since rotted away and the location of the grave site is not known.

The above picture is the “Old Science Hill Hotel” which is located across from the only bank in Science Hill. This structure is located down the street from the former home of Ed Mize. (1980)

This photo is Eddie F. Mize’s former house which is located in Science Hill, Kentucky. The portion of the house that is located on the left hand side of the picture is the original house of Eddie Mize. The house stood between the old Science Hill Hotel and the railroad tracks. He lived in the house until his death. This photo was taken during the year 1980. The house has been razed and a business has been built over the site.