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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CAPT. MORTIMER CLAY EDWARDS, the junior member of the law firm of Hammack & Edwards, was born in Pinckneyville, on the 14th of March, 1838. His father, William Edwards, was a native of Vermont, and in early life removed to Ohio, whence he emigrated to Shawneetown, Ill., coming to Pinckneyville in 1832. The grandfather, Calvin Edwards, came to this state, and here died in 1861, at the age of seventy-nine. William Edwards was an attorney by profession. He married Juliet M. Brown, a native of Virginia, who died in September, 1893, at the age of seventy-nine. His death occurred in 1854, at the age of forty-nine. Of their family three are now living. Cordelia M. became the wife of Judge Hammack, and died some years ago. Gilbert H. was a soldier of Company A, Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, and died during the service in Cairo, Ill., in 1862. Eliza was the wife of C. C. Irwin, of Wayne County, Ill., and died in 1873. Rowena J. is the wife of Judge J. D. Hamilton, of Geneva, Neb. W. W. is dean of the law department of McKendree College of Lebanon.

No event of special importance occurred during the boyhood and youth of Captain Edwards, which were passed in his native town. His early education was acquired in the local schools, but later he spent two years in the Masonic College of Lexington, Mo. Wishing to enter the legal profession, he began reading law with Judge Hammack, and was admitted to the Bar in 1859. He then engaged in practice until August, 1862, when he entered the army as a member of Company C, Eighty-first Illinois Infantry. He was made First Lieutenant, and in June, 1864, for bravery and meritorious conduct on the field of battle was promoted to the rank of Captain. He took part in eighteen engagements, serving until the close of the war, and was slightly wounded at Champion Hills.

Ere leaving home, the Captain was married, in 1861, to Miss H. M. Edwards, and to them were born two children, Emma A., wife of J. A. Biby, of Pinckneyville; and W. O., who graduated from McKendree College, and is now engaged in teaching. After the war, Captain Edwards resumed law practice in Pinckneyville, and has since devoted his energies to the prosecution of his profession. In 1880, he was elected County Attorney, and served four years. In 1885, he went to Haskell County, Kan., and on the organization of that county was appointed County Attorney, a position he held for two years. He was again elected to that office, but after a year resigned and removed to Geneva, Neb. A year later, in 1891, he returned to Pinckneyville, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of law in connection with Judge Hammack.

Mr. Edwards is a Royal Arch Mason, and has served as Master of the blue lodge. In politics, he is a Republican, and is a warm advocate of the principles of that party. He holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is Trustee, and is a charitable and benevolent gentleman, whose many excellencies of character have gained for him high regard. The law firm of Hammack & Edwards is now enjoying a liberal patronage and is ranked among the leading business firms of the city.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Perry County, Illinois family biographies here: Perry County, Illinois Biographies

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