My Genealogy Hound

E. F. EDWARDS, farmer, Sec. 3, Town 21; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early settlers; born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1826; he attended school in Ohio until 14 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Le Roy, in 1840, at which time Le Roy contained some fifteen or twenty houses and two stores; here he lived until 20 years of age, when he removed to Waynesville, De Witt Co., and engaged with his father in the drug business for two years, when he disposed of his business and returned to Le Roy, where he lived several years. In 1862, he removed upon his present place, which he had purchased in the fall of 1856; here he followed farming four years, when he rented his farm, and, in 1866, he removed to Bloomington and followed his trade three years; he was then elected Alderman from the Third Ward, and was appointed by the Council Superintendent of Streets; he successfully represented his constituents as Alderman of the Third Ward for six years in succession, and served as Justice of the Peace four years. In the spring of 1879, he returned to his farm, where he owns 166 acres, also 160 acres each in Butler and Morris Cos., Kan., and a residence and one and a half acres of land in the city of Bloomington. His marriage with Mary Pharis was celebrated Sept. 14, 1847; she was born in Ohio in 1831; she died in February, 1856, leaving two children, one of whom is now living — Emeline E.; the deceased, Oscar, was killed by being thrown from a horse over an embankment, near Le Roy, when 23 years of age. Mr. Edwards married for his second wife Celia A. Hedges Feb. 5, 1857; she was born Jan. 3, 1842, in Morgan Co., Ohio; seven children were the fruit of this union, of which six are now living — Ida I., Effie L., Elmer M., Lee E., Mertie C., and Minnie C. (twins); the deceased died in infancy. Mr. Edwards is a Republican, having acted with the Republican party since its organization, and is a strong advocate of temperance. He has been a member of the M. E. Church since 1843, and has filled different offices. He is a son of Dr. David Edwards, who was a physician and a Methodist minister, and had a very extended practice; he lived in McLean Co. several years, when he located in Morris, Grundy Co., and practiced several years, and died in Kendall Co., in 1857; Mrs. Edwards died two years previous.