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Source: Southwest Louisiana and Biographical and Historical by
William Henry Perrin published in 1891;  page 285.



                      JUDGE W. W. EDWARDS
                         Abbeveille, LA

Judge Wakeman W. Edwards, a prominent member of the Abbeville
bar, was born in Saratoga county, New York, September 13, 1826. 
His grandfather, Edwards, was born on Long, Island, of English
parertage. Our subject is the oldest of a family of three
children born to Henry and Betsy (Rogers) Edwards, both of
whom were natives of  New York.  Henry Edwards was a prosperous
farmer. He died in New York in 1852. His wife died in 1856.
Judge Edwards received his education at Union College, 
Schenectady, New York, of which institution he is a graduate.
After leaving college young Edwards emigrated to Mississippi,
where he was engaged in school teaching for Five years, at the
same time pursuing a course of study. He was admitted to
the bar in Canton, Mississippi, 1855, and began practice the
following year in Conway county, Arkansas.  He served as a member
of the Legislative from 1858 to 1860. In 1859 Judge Edwards
removed to Lake Village, Chicot county, Arkansas, where he
practised law until 1863, when be entered the Confederate
States army, and served during the latter two years of the
war. After the war he located in New Orlens, where he remained
until 1875, in which year he came to Abbeville and practised law,
anti was editor and proprietor ot the Vermilion Banner.  He
abandoned  the Banner after one year, and since that time
has practised his profession. Mr. Edwards was  appointed
district judge in 1889 to fill the unexpiired term of Judge C.
Debaillon. He was president of the parish school board for
several years; and for two years served as United States Com-
missioner of the western district of Louisiana. Judge Edwards
ranks high as a lawyer, and as a citizen he is public-spirited,
and is always identified with measures origrinated for the
promotion of the public good.