Hancock County IL Archives Biographies.....Edwards, Gen. Oliver ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Morrey sandymorrey@yahoo.com November 11, 2009, 9:13 pm Source: Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois Author: Unknown GEN. OLIVER EDWARDS, Mayor of War- saw, lives in an elegant home overlooking the Mississippi Valley for many miles. He is recognized as one of the most prominent citizens of this place, and his name is inseparably con- nected with many of its leading events. His an- cestors were numbered among the Revolutionary fathers, and his great-grandfather, who served in the War for Independence, was made a prisoner in what was called the Black Hole at Quebec, but succeeded in escaping to Albany, N. Y. His widow afterward received a pension in recognition of his services. The family has always fur- nished representatives as defenders of the country. John S. Edwards, who was in the War for Inde- pendence, was born July 11, 1764, in Dedham, Mass., and in 1775 removed to Norwich, Mass. In April, 1781, he was drafted for six months' service in the Colonial army under Capt. William Forbes. With his command he marched into the interior of New York, where the Indians were harassing the settlers, and was stationed for three months at Ft. Schuyler. He afterward spent three months at Ft. Stannox, where he received his discharge. He died in the ninety-third year of his age. Capt. Oliver Edwards entered the Colonial service in 1775, and valiantly aided in the struggle to secure to the oppressed Colonies release from the British yoke of tyranny. Capt. Oliver and Rachel (Parsons) Edwards, of Northampton, Mass., were the grandparents of our subject. Their son, Dr. Elisha Edwards, father of the General, was born in Chesterfield, Mass., January 26, 1793. When a young man he went to Northampton, and began learning the apothecary's trade in the store of E. Hunt. In 1815, he emigrated to Springfield, Ill., where he embarked in business on his own account. Af- terward he formed a partnership with Henry Stearns, which continued from 1820 until 1825. In 1828, he joined Charles J. Upham in business, under the firm name of C. J. Upham & Co. Dr. Edwards, who was a prominent citizen, was one of the subscribers to the fund for the purchase of the Court Square, and was one of the original Direc- tors of the Chicopee Bank. In 1821, he married Eunice Lombard, daughter of Daniel and Sylvia (Burt) Lombard, and to them were born five sons and five daughters. The members of the family now living are Mrs. Caroline L. Smith, of Spring- field, Mass.; Mrs. Sophia Orne Johnson, of Bath, N. H.; Mrs. Charlotte E. Warner, of Springfield, Mass.; William, a prominent merchant of Cleve- land, Ohio; Mrs. Julia E. Hurd, of Dorchester, Mass.; Oliver, of Warsaw; and Mrs. Mary E. Child, of Cleveland, Ohio. We now take up the personal history of Gen. Edwards, who was reared in the expectation of be- coming a master mechanic of Springfield, Mass. In 1856 he emigrated westward, making his home in Warsaw, Ill., where he became a member of the firm of Heberling, Edwards & Co., and occupied the position of master mechanic. To that work he devoted his energies until the breaking out of the Civil War, when, prompted by patriotic im- pulses, he responded to the country's call for troops. He had studied the events previous to the beginning of the struggle, and when the disso- lution of the Union was threatened he resolved to strike a blow in its defense. He donned the blue, and like his ancestors of old fought valiantly for his country. Gen. Edwards was a brave soldier. He entered the service as First lieutenant and Adjutant of the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment, June 21, 1861; was mustered in as Colonel of the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment September 4, 1862; and was appointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers May 19, 1865. He received the brevet rank of Brigadier-General of Volunteers October 19, 1864, for gallant and distinguished services in the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, Va., and Major- General of Volunteers April 5, 1865, for conspic- uous gallantry at the battle of Sailor's Creek, Va. He was honorably mustered out of service January 15, 1866. When the war was over, Gen. Edwards re- turned to Warsaw and for a year and a-half served as Postmaster of this place. In the mean time, he was married. On the 3d of September, 1863, he wedded Ann Eliza Johnson, daughter of the late Gen. E. Johnson, of Warsaw. They became par- ents of two children: John E., who is now general superintendent in Montana for Cruse's cattle and sheep ranches; and Julia Kate at home. Gen. Edwards resigned as Postmaster to become general agent for the Florence Sewing-machine Company, of Northampton, Mass. His connec- tion with that company continued for seven years, during a portion of which time he was its man- ager. In 1879, he returned to Warsaw, and re- tired from business, but in 1882 he accepted an appointment as General Superintendent of the Gardner Gun Company in England. Thus his time was occupied for two years, when he resigned on account of ill health and returned home. The best interests of the community have ever found in him a friend, one ever ready to aid in the ad- vancement of those enterprises which are calcula- ted to prove of public benefit. He has been honored with a number of local offices, and is now serv- ing his third term as Mayor of Warsaw. The city has had no more competent official in that office than Gen. Edwards, whose fidelity to duty is everywhere known and recognized. In his polit- ical views he is a stalwart Republican, and so- cially, is connected with Arthur W. Marsh Post No. 343, G. A. R., and with the Masonic fra- ternity. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/hancock/photos/bios/edwards1560gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/hancock/bios/edwards1560gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb