John W. Edwards

JOHN W. EDWARDS.

To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our country is due to the honest industry, sturdy persistency and unserving perseverance and wise economy which so prominently characterizes the farmers of the Buckeye state. Among this class of farmers may be mentioned John W. Edwards, the subject of this sketch, who, by reason of his years of indefatigable labor and honest efforts, has not only acquired a well-merited competence in life, but who has earned the high esteem of all with whom he is associated.

John W. Edwards, a native of Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born on January 5, 1871. He is the son of Josiah and Susan (Breese) Edwards, the former of whom was born in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, May 30, 1826, and who was the son of Josiah and Margaret (Jones) Edwards. Josiah Edwards, Sr., was a farmer by occupation. He lived and died in Wales. Josiah Edwards, Jr., and wife, and one child, came to America in 1855, in the spring, settling first in Utica, New York, where he was employed on a dairy farm. The following fall m 1855, he came to Allen county, Ohio, and settled at Gomer. His first employment was with Griffith John, a contractor, who built the Pennsylvama railroad from Lima to Elida. The following summer he rented a farm on "Calico ridge," Sugar Creek township, Allen county, and here he lived for about seven years, when he moved, in 1862, to Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, and settled on eighty acres of land one and one-half miles southwest of Vaughnsville. This farm was located on the Old Ridge road. It was in a virgin state at the time he purchased it, and had only an acre or two cleared. Josiah Edwards proceeded to clear and drain the land and improve it. He succeeded in getting it all cleared, except eight acres. He built a large frame house of ten rooms, in 1873, and a large frame barn in 1879. To this land, he later added forty acres more. He was always engaged in general farming, was a very successful farmer and attributed his success mostly to the raising of corn and hogs. He was also successful in raising horses.

Josiah and Susan (Breese) Edwards had one child before they came to America. This child, John, who was but four years old when his parents came to Allen county, died the day after their arrival at Gomer. There were five children born to Josiah Edwards and wife, John was born in Wales on January 21, 1851, and died at Gomer on November 8, 1855; Margaret is the deceased wife of B. F. Thomas; Joseph B. is a farmer in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county; Mary is the life of Thomas S. Williams; John W. is the subject of this sketch. Josiah Edwards died on August 17, 1897, at the ripe old age of seventy-one. He and his wife were members of the Gomer Congregational church, of which he was a deacon for many years. Josiah Edwards was a Republican. He enlisted, in 1864, in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment, Ohio Wolunteer Infantry, for one hundred days, and was attached to the Army of the Potomac. Fie was on duty, near Washington, D. C, at the close of the war. Josiah Edwards, Jr., was mustered into the service for one hundred days on May 13, 1864, and was mustered out on August 27, 1864.

Mrs. Susan (Breese) Edwards, the wife of Josiah Edwards, Jr., was a daughter of John and Mary (Edwards) Breese, and was born in North Wales, in Montgomeryshire, May 13, 1827. She had one brother and five sisters, all of whom came to America, and all of whom, except one sister, Mrs. Sarah Morris, settled in Iowa. She settled in Vaughnsville and there died. Mrs. Susan (Breese) Edwards lived on the old home place until her death, November 5, 1909.

John W. Edwards spent his childhood and youth on the old homestead of his father, southwest of Aaughnsville. He attended the old Bryne Tawa school, and after finishing school, continued helping his father on the old home place.

At the age of twenty-two, Mr. Edwards was married to Zoe Gardner, who w'las born in Vaughnsville on January 14, 1872, and who was a daughter of Henry and Angehna (Calhoun) Gardner, the former of whom was the sixth of seven children born to Samuel and Catherine Gardner, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Samuel Gardner was born in 1802, and died in Bluffton, Allen County, Ohio, in 1863. His wife, Catherine Gardner, was born on June 19, 1809, and died at Columbus Grove, April 16, 1887. Samuel Gardner was a blacksmith by trade, and a captain of militia during pioneer days. Pie was a Presbyterian and his wife a member of the Lutheran church. Henry Gardner was born in Richland county, Ohio, June 18, 1840, and from the age of eighteen years until 1890 was a blacksmith. He then became a merchant. Samuel Gardner moved with his family to Mercer county, Ohio, in 1850, and purchased an improved farm. He remained there eight years and then removed to Wayne county, and finally settled at Bluffton. Plenry Gardner enlisted in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry in 1861 and served three years in the Army of the Cumberland. He was honorably discharged at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was married in 1866 and engaged in hotel keeping, at Columbus Grove, Ohio, about a year, when he settled at Vaughnsville. He served as township trustee and as treasurer of the school district, and was a census take in 1880. His wife, Angelina Calhoun, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, October 24, 1845, and was a daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth Calhoun. Henry and Angelina (Calhoun) Gardner had five daughters, Minnie, Carrie, Zoe, who married Mr. Edwards; Maud and Blanche. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were married on February 23, 1893,. After their marriage, Mr. Edwards rented his father's farm, the old homestead. This arrangement existed until after his mother's death, in 1909, at which time he purchased the farm from the heirs. The same year, February i, 1909, the Peoples Bank opened for business in Vaughnsville, and Mr. Edwards was elected as cashier of that institution, which position he has held up to the present time. Mr. Edwards, however, continues to supervise the operations of his farm. He has always done general farming. He moved from the farm and took up his residence in Vaughnsville in November, 1912, where he now resides. His residence, which he purchased in 1912, is a modern eight-room house, beautifully situated, and bespeaks the character and culture of its owner.

Henry Gardner, father of Mrs. Edwards, died on August 29, 191 1. All of his children, except Carrie, are still living. Mr. Edwards' sister, Margaret, who was born in America, April 24, 1856, and who died on January 20, 1881, had married B. F. Thomas and bore him one child, Josiah Thomas, who was reared by his grandfather. Mr. Edwards' brother.

Joseph B., was born on November 27, 1859. His life history is recounted elsewhere in this volume. Mary J. Edwards, who was born on August 23, 1865, is the wife of T. S. WilHams, a farmer.

John W. Edwards and his wife are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Edwards is a member of Vaughnsville Lodge No. 711, Knights of Pythias. He also occupies a responsible position in the life of Sugar Creek township, not only as one of its leading farmers, but as an officer in charge of its leading financial institution. This business brings him into intimate association with his fellow citizens. He enjoys their confidence, to an exceptional degree, and is much sought for advice and counsel.

As printed in History of Putnam County, Ohio : its people, industries, and institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.