BIO: Oliver EDWARDS, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JAWB

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
_______________________________________________________________ 

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 248-249.
_______________________________________________________________ 

  EDWARDS, OLIVER, third son of Abraham Edwards and Martha Greenfield, 
was born October 24, 1824.  His parents were natives of Baltimore, 
where they married, removed to Pittsburgh, and subsequently to 
Harrisburg about 1819.  Oliver's education in the schools was limited, 
but his mind being active and inquiring, he read much and studied at 
night after the work of the day was over, thus becoming very well self-
educated, and developed into a man of considerable attainments.  When 
young he learned the trade of bootmaking with his father; later in life 
he was selected as a school teacher under the common school system, and 
proved to be one of the most successful ever employed in the Harrisburg 
schools, as numbers of young men of the present day can testify.
  Mr. Edwards was much afflicted with asthma and unable to do military 
duty, but in order to render some service during the war he became the 
agent for the reception and distribution of the Dauphin County Relief 
Fund for the support of those whose husbands, fathers and sons were in 
the army. It was a very onerous duty, and he performed it faithfully 
and well, declining any remuneration whatever for his services.  In 
1860 he was elected one of the first aldermen of the city of 
Harrisburg.  Upon the election of Gen. A. S. Raumfort as mayor of the 
city he appointed Mr. Edwards as committing magistrate and chief clerk 
in the mayor's office.  He was elected to succeed Gen. Raumfort, and 
was inaugurated mayor  of the city in March, 1866.  He was subsequently 
elected an alderman of the Fourth ward in 1872, which position he 
occupied up until the time of his death, which occurred in Harrisburg 
on the 13th day of October, 1874.  Mr. Edwards was an active man, of 
quick perception, fine social qualities, and possessed of much useful 
information.  The Rev. George F. Stelling, of the Fourth Street 
Lutheran church, preached a very able funeral sermon shortly after his 
death in relation to Mr. Edwards' religious experience.  On the 7th of 
August, 1851, he married Rachel Ann Chandler, daughter of Jonathan 
Chandler and Mary Griffith.  The marriage took place in Harrisburg, 
where his wife was born, on the 13th of August, 1830, and died therein 
on the 5th of July, 1865.  Two daughters survived the parents, Mary 
Griffith and Rachel Louisa, married Daniel A. Musser.