Chatham-Tattnall County GaArchives Biographies.....Edwards, Charles Gordon 2 July 1878 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 12, 2004, 11:32 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 549-550

   HON. CHARLES GORDON EDWARDS. In March, 1907, there took his place in the
Congress of the United States, representing the First District of Georgia, a
young' statesman of the type upon which the south founds its hope—the Hon.
Charles Gordon Edwards, of Savannah. So excellent was the record made by him in
the Sixtieth Congress that he was returned at the next election. He is
particularly well fitted by nature and training for the duties of his office and
combines in himself the theoretical and practical, which produces the man who
begets great ideas and knows how to make them realities. He has carried with him
to the National Assembly well defined and unfaltering ideas of duty towards his
constituents and is in refreshing contrast to the self-seeking politician who
has proved the menace of modern society. In truth he has been very successful in
keeping his political skirts free from corruption. As a lawyer he has already
taken rank among the most able in the city.

   Mr. Edwards is a native son of Georgia, his birth having occurred in Tattnall
county, July 2, 1878. His parents are the Hon. Thomas J. and Annie (Conley)
Edwards, who reside at Daisy, Tattnall county, the former being, indeed, a
life-long resident of that section. He served with distinction as a Confederate
soldier in the war between the states, enlisting as a member of the Fifth
Georgia Cavalry, but early in the great conflict he became a courier on the
staff of Gen. Bob Anderson, in which capacity he spent the greater part of his
army service. He became one of the best known and most highly trusted couriers
in the Confederate army, his services taking him from northern Virginia through
the Carolinas and Virginia to Florida. His military career it would be
impossible to exceed in interest, filled as it was with thrilling adventures and
escapes from the enemy. The forbears of the subject on both sides of the family
have for many years been identified with this part of the south. His paternal
grandfather, Dr. William H. Edwards, was one of the pioneers of the county and
assisted in laying the paths straight and clean for the coming of latter day
civilization. His great-grandfather, Willis F. Edwards, was a soldier in the
Continental line from North Carolina in the Revolutionary war, and at the
conclusion of his services in the cause of independence, he settled in Georgia.
The maternal grandfather, Rev. William Fletcher Conley, also a pioneer of
Tattnall county, assisted in the suppression of the Indians. He was a son of
William F. Conley, a Virginian and ff soldier in the Revolutionary war. Thus it
will be seen that the gentleman from Georgia is a thorough American, which in
this day of foreign invasion is coming to be a notable distinction. He has
inherited the patriotism of his ancestors and is very loyal to American
institutions.

   Mr. Edwards received an excellent education, attending the Gordon Institute
at Barnesville, Georgia; the University of Florida; and the University of
Georgia. He graduated in the law department of the latter in the class of 1898,
receiving the degree of B. L. He immediately began the practice of law at
Reidsville, the county seat of Tattnall county, where he remained until
December, 1900, in which year he located permanently in the city of Savannah.
Here he soon found the recognition to which his gifts entitled him. Upon first
arriving he formed a partnership with Capt. R. J. Travis and later with A. L.
Alexander. The latter partnership existed until his election to Congress.

   In the election of 1906, Mr. Edwards was elected to Congress, representing
the First District of Georgia and throughout the city there was at that time and
still persists a conviction that the right man had triumphed and that the
interests of the people would be well represented. He took his seat in the
National Assembly on March 4, 1907, as a member of the Sixtieth Congress. He was
reelected in 1909 and on March 4, 1910, became a member of the Sixty-first
Congress. At the time of his appearance in the Sixtieth Congress he was the
youngest member of that body. Mr. Edwards has in every way justified the
confidence of his constituents and has made a tine record for practical
usefulness, all of which has made him justly beloved in Savannah and throughout
the First District. He is a member of the important Rivers and Harbors
Committee, one of the seven big committees of the House. He is also a member of
the Committee on Elections, in which committee he is ranking Democrat, ranking
next to the chairman. He is identified with the Committee on Alcohol Liquor
Traffic and he has taken part in the enactment of much important legislation. At
home, in state affairs, it was largely through his agitation, eloquent and
logical, that the Georgia State Drainage Law was enacted, under which a vast
acreage of rich land, particularly in the vicinity of Savannah and in southeast
Georgia is being scientifically drained and reclaimed for agricultural purposes.
As such land is now practically waste laud the beneficence of this measure will
readily be seen, and will conduce in material fashion to the prosperity of the
section. It will result not only to adding greatly to the agricultural wealth of
the state by coming under cultivation, but it will also have a tendency to
decrease malaria and other diseases arising from low, swampy and flooded lands.

   Besides his work as a statesman and in the law profession, Mr. Edwards in
commercial life has substantial interests in naval stores, saw mills, farming
and banking. He was formerly a member of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry in
Savannah, in which he became a lieutenant. He is a member of Epworth Methodist
Episcopal church, and a trustee of the Southern Methodist College at McRae,
Georgia. He has many fraternal and social affiliations, being identified with
Sigma Nu fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the
Oglethorpe Club, the Georgia Bar Association, the Savannah Bar Association, the
Sons of Confederate Veterans, and he is also a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner.

   Mr. Edwards was happily married December 17, 1902, his chosen lady being Miss
Ora Beach, of Waycross, Georgia, daughter of Hon. William W. and Margie (Hinson)
Beach. They share their hospitable and attractive home with one son, Charles
Beach Edwards.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913


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