Rev. Edwin Dyar

Reverend Dyar was born on November 7, 1806 at Saltville, Virginia. He was the son of Wiley Dyer and nephew of Elisha Dyar and Baldy Dyer, all of whom were sons of James Dyer (Dyar).

Although brothers, at some point Elisha, a revolutionary war soldier, chose to spell his last name differently, or, perhaps, the other way around. Tradition says he and Wiley were involved in a dispute over their father's will and one chose to spell his name differently, in order to disassociate himself from his brother. It is undetermined how their father spelled his name and old records reflect it spelled both ways.

Edwin married Nancy Austin, reportedly a kinswoman of Stephen F. Austin of Texas historical fame, although never proven. They had eight children. Edwin preached at Baptist churches in northwest Georgia, including Rome, Lafayette, Cassville and elsewhere. He also preached in Chattanooga.

His descendants remain in that area of Georgia where he resided and served the ministry. Some of them attended the Dyar reunions at Adairsville in the early to mid-1900s. The Dyar family are descendants of Elisha Dyar, Edwin's uncle. To this day, the families continue to spell their names differently.

Edwin died in the Galveston, Texas (Stephens County) area on January 16, 1879.

standing portrait

DYA-01 edwin