Edgar Shew, simply put, was a Mountain Man and a legend on Peel Chestnut Mountain. He was an original and there will never be another like him again. He had many friends of all ages and all walks of life. Everyone, including his family, was fascinated by his personality, his speech, and his stories of his experiences. There was always a steady flow of visitors to the Shew Homeplace on the top of Peel Chestnut Mountain.
It is our hope to share some of the experiences, sights, and kinship to Edgar Shew on this website. This page is a tribute, and a memorial, to him.
Edgar Shew was a true Mountain Man. He spent most of his time on Peel Chestnut Mountain in his bibbed overalls, pipe, and hat. He spent much of his time stacking firewood and placing fence posts. And of course, all of his fence posts were of locust wood.
Edgar Shew was a collector of anything and everything old. He owned a large collection of cowboy movie posters, a large collection of guns that were mostly colts, old movie cameras, silent films, license plates from many states, crosscut and hand saws, liquor bottles, Prince Albert Pipe Tobacco cans, old tools, and mining items, newspapers and magazines, and hundreds of books – mostly the cowboy variety such as books by Zane Gray. All of Edgar Shew’s collections are still intact, and it is hoped that they will be wanted in some Museum someday so that all may enjoy.
Edgar Shew was born on January 22, 1910, and lived on Peel Chestnut Mountain until his death in 1999. Although never married, he left behind scores of family and friends that miss him and the way that he lived his life.
Memories of Edgar
Brenda “Tater” Compton When Randy and I were married, we would ride the golf cart around the mountain sometimes at night. We would stop and check on Edgar whenever we saw a light on in the house. He would always welcome us. I loved hearing his stories from way back – cowboy stories. He was truly a piece of History and is still very sadly missed by all that knew him.Charlie Shew I have very many fond memories of my great Uncle Edgar from the times we got together and watched silent westerns while he drank moonshine from a milk jug and I drank beer. There used to be “social gatherings” on Sundays when it was not uncommon to see up to ten friends stop by to discuss current news, and maybe drank a little beer. One memory that explains how much Edgar was loved by his friends and family was on my first Thanksgiving after moving here. I knew he was alone and did not want him to go without turkey so I drove down to Krogers and bought us a Thanksgiving dinner. I drove on up to Edgar’s and when I walked in his kitchen table was table was completely full of meals that his friends had brought over. That was one of the first times I realized how much the people of Pocahontas cared for Edgar.