Edward Cleveland "Edd"[2581] Stidham
(1885-1979)

Four generations: William Riley [1232], Edd [2581], Bert [5104], and his son, Bobby Leroy Stidham, taken in 1934 in Valiant, Oklahoma. (Sent by Dan Stidham of Paragould, Arkansas, June 2007)

This photograph appeared in the Paragould, Arkansas newspaper on June 13, 2009 with the caption: "If anyone know the identity of the gentleman with the snake and/or knows the story behind this picture, please contact the news clerk." Judge Dan Stidham of Paragould sent the news clerk the following email on June 14th:

"As I was reading the paper on Saturday, June 13th, I immediately recognized the "Picture of the Past" as my great Grandfather, Edward C. Stidham, who passed away in 1979 at the age of 94. My father, Troy C. Stidham remembered the picture from his childhood, and we called my Grandfather, Ollie C. Stidham, who now lives in California and is now 90 years old. My Grandfather not only remembered both the snake and the picture, but he also has the original clipping of the picture from the newspaper that was published on September 13, 1953. According to my Grandfather, my Great Grandfather killed the Rattlesnake near Beech Grove on his way home to Paragould in September 1953. What a lovely suprise! I am sending a copy of Saturday's paper to my Grandfather in California so he will have both the original clipping from September 13, 1953 and the second time it was published on June 13, 2009." Judge Dan Stidham