James T. Edwards

JAMES T. EDWARDS. M.D.

Dr. James T. Edwards was born near East Union, in Perry township, Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1830, and was therefore in his seventy-fifth year at the time of his death. He attended school at the academy at West Bedford and at Hayesville, Ohio. He read medicine in the office of Dr. John Russell, of Mt. Vernon, and was graduated in 1856 from the medical department of the University of New York city. Immediately after his graduation, Dr. Edwards entered upon the practice of medicine at West Carlisle, where he practiced continuously for forty-six years.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Dr. Edwards served in the Civil war as assistant surgeon in the ninety-seventh Ohio Regiment. His services continued for one year, when he was obliged to return home on account of disability. Coshocton city has had no man of more distinct character than Dr. Edwards. He was at all times a model country gentleman, of broad culture and a range of information befitting the man of aiTairs that he was. He took a keen interest in all that was going on in the world's theater of human affairs and had deep seated convictions on all great questions at issue and was never lacking in courage or ability to assert them in ways that were well understood. Although he took a deep inter-est in politics, Dr. Edwards never held public office in his life, being obliged many times to refuse the importunities of his many friends to tender him nominations. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church at West Carlisle. As a physician, Dr. Edwards stood among the first and foremost and in his long years of practice, covering a period of almost a half century, he enjoyed the implicit confidence of the whole people of the large scope of country over which his practice extended. He was above all, a man among men and was always deeply solicitous for the welfare of his neighbors and friends. He shared with them in all matters with his counsel and advice and was helpful in all such ways as are embodied in the ties and impulses of friendship. In all relations with men the first and foremost thought was N----- honesty, fair dealing and strict obsei-vance of the common laws that emanate from a sensitive and discriminating conscience. These sturdy traits that rere ever present in his character endeared him to all of the people of a lofty mind. His demise was sorely felt in the community of which he was so important a part, and the memories of his precept and example will live long after him, an inscription upon the imperishable rock of time. No greater tribute can be paid to the life and character of Dr. Edwards than a simple narrative of his works without embelplishments of extravagant phrase, for the naked truth speaks more eloquently in his praise. He was a man of deeds rather than of words or pretense and when the Book of Records is closed the summary reads "Well done."

As printed in Centennial history of Coshocton County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.