“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

DR. EDWARD J. HALLUM, a physician and surgeon of Oak Cliff, Texas, 
was born in Fairfield district, South Carolina, April 22, 1849, a son of 
Colonel Richard A. R. and Margaret (Martin) Hallum, natives of South 
Carolina.  The mother’s parents were married in Scotland, and afterward 
came to this country.  The father’s parents were from England, and two 
brothers, William and Henry Hallum, came from that country and settled in 
Virginia before the Revolutionary war, both participating in that struggle.  
William was an officer of his regiment, and on one occasion, having been 
captured, the British officer became enraged, drew his sword, and was about 
to split his head.  Mr. Hallum drew his revolver and shot the officer dead, 
and then made his escape into South Carolina.  The family afterward 
changed their name from Hallam to Hallum.  William had a family, but its 
members are unknown.  John, one of his sons, reared a family of nine 
children, six of whom were boys, and his son Bazzil was the grandfather of 
our subject.  Colonel Richard was an extensive and practical farmer, owning 
a large plantation in South Carolina.  His residence, which cost $10,000 in 
gold, is still standing, near Winsboro, South Carolina, and is the only one in 
that neighborhood which was not burned during the late war.  He was the 
father of nine children, and about 1856 he settled with his family in 
Anderson county, Texas, where he owned a plantation of about 1,200 acres.  
He was Colonel of the militia many years, and was solicited by friends to 
represent his county in the Legislature, but declined the position.  He 
weighed 200 pounds, and was a fine specimen of physical, intellectual and 
moral manhood.  Socially, he stood high among a large circle of 
acquaintances, and his name was almost a synonym for honesty, integrity 
and golden-rule dealings.  Three of his sons, Robert G., Bazzil and Richard, 
took part in the late war as privates.  Robert and Richard returned, but Bazzil 
was shot in the battle of Sharpsburg.  He was in Captain Gaston’s com-
pany, and was serving as an officer in a most closely contested engagement.  
The color bearers were shot down one after another, and when others would 
not raise the colors he carried them for a time, but in the hot engagement he, 
too, fell to rise no more.  His two messmates, William and Clarence Wren, 
returned and told the sad news.  The names of the four living children are: 
Dr. Richard of Brownwood, Texas; Margaret, wife of D. Y. Milling, of 
Anderson county, this State; Edward J., our subject; and John M., a farmer 
of Anderson county.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the Dallas and Woodland College, 
graduating at the latter in 1864.  He then read medicine under his brother, 
Richard Hallum, and afterward graduated in the Medical Department of the 
University of Pennsylvania, in the class of 1874.  After graduating he 
immediately began practice at Kickapoo, Anderson county, Texas; four 
years later went to Tehuacana, this State; next was at Brownwood eight 
years; resided near the coast one year, and in 1892 moved to Oak Cliff.  He 
was engaged in the drug business in connection with his practice while in 
Brownwood, and also served as County Physician during his entire stay 
there.  He has been an examiner for a number of insurance companies.

Dr. Hallum was married February 14, 1875, to Miss Floretta E. Erwin, a 
daughter of Colonel S. A. Erwin, of Oak Cliff.  To this union have been born 
seven children, viz.: Edna L., Vasca F., Forrest R., Nina L., Eppa B., Dixie 
O. and Queen.  The parents are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and the father also affiliates with the A. O. U. W., the K. of P., and 
is a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery, F. & A. M.  Dr. 
Hallum has performed many surgical operations, having amputated several 
limbs, arms, a number of tumors of different kinds,--on one occasion 
removed an eye,--and has made an ex-section of the tibia and fibula.  He 
trephined the skull when another noted physician said “it was the only thing 
that would save his life, but he would die on the table, and he did not care to 
attempt it.”  The patient is still living and doing well.  The Doctor has a good 
reputation as a physician and surgeon, is a late but valued accession to Oak 
Cliff, is public-spirited and progressive in his views, and is such as gives 
character to a community.

Submitted by: Justina Cook