BIO: Wilson EDWARDS, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 292.
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  WILSON EDWARDS, East Broad Top, Huntingdon county, Pa., is a native 
of Tod township, born on the farm which has been the family homestead 
for three generations and which is known as "The Tomahawk Improvement,; 
on July 11, 1830. He is a son of Joshua and Barbara (Barnett) Edwards. 
His grandfather, John Edwards, an Englishman by birth, came when a 
young man to America; his first dwelling place here was in the State of 
Maryland; the next in Huntingdon county, and the next at Morrisons 
Cove, Bedford county, Pa. At the last named place, he settled on some 
land, but was driven off by the Indians. He then returned to Maryland; 
after living there for some time, he again came to Huntingdon county, 
and settled some time previous to the Revolutionary war, on the tract 
of land where Wilson Edwards now resides. He took up about 300 acres of 
land, on which he built a log house and barn; he also built two other 
log houses on his farm. John Edwards was married, July 17, 1770, to 
Mary Walker; their children were: Robert, born May 10, 1771; John, born 
September 13, 1776, died in August, 1779; Joseph, born February 20, 
1777; Rachel, born in 1778; Mary, born August 13, 1784, died February 
18, 1785; Joshua, born July 29, 1787; John W., born October 18, 1789. 
John Edwards and his wife both died at the homestead, and are buried in 
Tod township.
  Joshua Edwards, son of John, was born on the homestead, where he 
spent his life, a farmer, like his father. To farming he added the 
occupation of stock raising and carding. He was a very estimable man, 
widely and favorably known. In 1836, he built a fulling mill, a log 
structure, on Trough creek. Joshua Edwards was married, October 24, 
1811, in Tod township, to Barbara Barnett, born August 27, 1777, at 
Broad Top. Their children were: Allen, born September 13, 1812; 
Elizabeth, June 28, 1814; Philip, September 5, 1815; Mary, twin sister 
of Philip; Rachel, born March 3, 1818; Nancy, September 17, 1819; 
Margaret, October 15, 1820; Sophia, February 28, 1822; John W., August 
12, 1825; Joshua, February 27, 1827; Jesse, September 26, 1828; Wilson, 
July 11, 1830; and Barbara, July 11, 1832. Joshua Edwards was a Whig, 
and afterwards a Republican. He served the township as supervisor. He 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died January 24, 
1856, and his wife December 6, 1865. He was a good man, well known 
throughout the vicinity, and liked as well as he was known.
  Wilson Edwards received his education at the Mount Pleasant school, 
in Tod township. He worked on the homestead until he was twenty-five 
years old, and then went to Marklesburg, to learn carpentry with 
Anthony Beaver. After one year spent in that place, he returned to the 
homestead, and has ever since remained there, cultivating its fields 
and raising stock. He has now over 150 acres under tillage. At times he 
works at carpentry and cabinet-making. Mr. Edwards has been chosen for 
various services to the township; has been judge of elections; was 
supervisor of roads for three terms; has been for ten years in the 
school board, and is its president. He is a Republican.
  Wilson Edwards was married at Broad Top City, August 16, 1855, to 
Mary, daughter of Jesse and Anne (White) Cook, born March 22, 1832. Her 
father is a farmer of Broad Top City, of English descent; her mother, a 
daughter of Thomas White, one of the men who took part in the "Boston 
tea party." Mrs. Edwards has seven brothers and sisters: Catharine; 
John; Anthony; Thomas; Jane; Martha; and Henry. The children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Edwards are: Jesse, born August 15, 1856, deceased; Henry A., born 
October 1, 1858; George H., September 8, 1860; Thomas W., July 1, 1862, 
deceased; Barbara A., January 15, 1864; Ulysses S. G., March 31, 1864; 
Oliver C., January 27, 1868; Howard E., April 18, 1870; Charles W., May 
11, 1872. Mr. Edwards is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, a 
steward and class leader of his church. Mr. Edwards has good "staying 
qualities;" is steady and persevering; he is also enterprising and 
judicious, and has thus become successful in his vocation, and attained 
to a useful and influential position.