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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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John
W. Edwards Among
the honored and worthy citizens of Jasper County who have taken an active part
in the general development of their community and won an envied reputation for
wholesome living is John W. Edwards, who was born in Fayette County, Iowa, May
18, 1858, and he is the son of Elias E. and Abigail M. (Gillum) Edwards, natives
of Pennsylvania. The father was a
miller and in later years a farmer. They
grew to maturity, were educated and married in the East and came to Fayette
County, Iowa, in 1855, locating in Aubum, where the father
conducted a general store until 1865, when he moved to Jasper County, where he
purchased twenty-nine acres of coal lands near Monroe upon which he opened a
coal bank, selling to the local trade. In 1898 he sold out and came to Reasnor,
where he led a retired life until his death, in 1902, at the age of seventy-five
years, the death of his wife occurring in October 1909, when seventy-nine years
old. The father was a well-known,
substantial and influential citizen, prominent in local politics. He has the
good will and respect of all who knew him.
In his family were six children, all of whom are living, namely:
Mary E. Summey, wife of J. W. Summey, a farmer living in Canada; Emma C.
married John M. Dawson, a farmer and carpenter, living near Monroe; Alpharetta
M. married Frank Garnant, who resides at Monroe; Ella E. is the widow of John M.
Simpson, and lives at Reasnor; John W., of this review; Leota M., wife of J. M.
Franklin, a former resident of Missouri. John
W. Edwards received a good education and began life for himself as a farmer in
Cass County, Iowa, in 1879, continuing thus for five years. He then operated a
coalmine near Monroe for five years, after which he purchased a farm near
Reasnor and farmed for two years. He then sold the farm and purchased the
general store of Caldwell & Son in Reasnor, which he still conducts, having
built up an extensive trade with the town and surrounding country through his
honest and courteous dealings and the fact that he always carries a large and
carefully selected line of goods, handling a general line of groceries,
clothing, shoes, notions, hardware, in fact, almost everything used by the
farmer and general public, and, according to the statement of many of the
long-time customers of his neatly kept and well arranged store, his prices are always right. On July 20,
1879, Mr. Edwards was united in marriage with Sarah E. Rater, daughter of Daniel
and Sarah (Romans) Rater, natives of Kentucky, both now deceased, after long and
active lives on the farm, the father dying in 1904, and the mother in 1910,
while living in Reasnor. Their
family consisted of ten children, of whom seven are living, namely: W. G. is
farming in Adair County, Iowa; G. A; is farming near Reasnor; John P. and
Martha, wife of Zoro McCrosky, are deceased; Sarah E., wife of Mr. Edwards, of
this review, was born June 26, 1861, and she was called to her reward on
September 13, 1909. She was one of
the most popular and best beloved women in Reasnor and vicinity, possessing
those rare attributes of head and heart that win and retain friends. Her
beautiful Christian character was reflected by the numerous kindly deeds she
performed for those about her. Upon the eve of her death a most remarkable
incident occurred, which indicated her perfect faith.
While her husband and family waited about her bed for the final summons
of the white-winged messenger to bear her gentle spirit to a higher sphere of
action, she clasped her hands together and suddenly uttered these words, while a
look of indescribable rapture came over her face: Glory, glory, glory; Don’t
be afraid; there is nothing to fear. He
has answered my prayers. He has put my feet upon the solid rock, Christ Jesus.
Glory Hallelujah! Glory Hallelujah! Praise His name, praise His name. The other
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Rater are Philene, wife of Charles
Mortimer, a farmer living in Adair County; Asbury D. is also farming in Adair
County; Mary is the wife of James H. Farris, a farmer living near Monroe; Lulu
D. is the wife of Peter DeHoet, a farmer living in Minnesota; Florence D. is the
wife of William Lufkin, a farmer near Reasnor. To Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were
born three children, all living, namely: Effie May, wife of Fred Minen, who
resides in Reasnor, was born May 30, 1880, in Jasper County; Attie Faye, born in
Cass County, Iowa, December 27, 1882, is living at home; Laurence E., or Pete,
as he is familiarly called, was born in Cass County, Iowa, December 16, 1884,
and is living at home. Mr. Edwards is a
member of Jasper Lodge No. 168, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Monroe. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Reasnor,
of which he is at present secretary and treasurer, also trustee.
He was steward of the same for ten years, and superintendent of the
Sunday school for thirteen years; in fact he has always been an earnest Church
worker and a liberal supporter of the Church.
He is easily one of the very foremost citizens and businessmen of Reasnor
and the southern part of the
County; politically, he is a Prohibitionist, and he takes the interest of a good
citizen in all public movements for the general welfare of the locality. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen.
James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, 1186. |
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