Edwards, Benjamin F.

BIOGRAPHIES
1905 PAST and PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY ILLINOIS

Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.

Page 479

BENJAMIN F. EDWARDS, an honored veteran of the Civil War, is now engaged in general farming on section 1, Rockbridge township. He was born in Greene county, October 12, 1835, and is a grandson of Rev. Isham Edwards, who removed with his family from Virginia to Kentucky and thence came to Illinois in 1827. He was one of the first settlers of Greene County, establishing his home within its borders when its population was very small and when the work of reclaiming the wild land has scarcely been begun. He bore his full share in the task of early development and his name should be enduringly inscribed on the pages of pioneer history. He was one of the first preachers of the Christian church in this state.

Lewis B. Edwards, son of Rev. Isham Edwards, was born February 4, 1804, in Virginia and accompanied his parents on their removal to Kentucky, where he was married to Ann Stringer, a native of Kentucky. He engaged in farming in that state for a time and in 1827 came to Illinois, finding in Greene county an almost unbroken district, where every evidence of pioneer life was to be seen. He served as a soldier in the Black Hawk war and took an active part in reclaiming his part of the state from the domain of the savages and in converting it to the uses of the white race who planted the seeds of civilization here. He entered a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Rockbridge township, developed a good farm there and reared his family. Later he removed to Henry county, Missouri, where he purchased land and upon that farm he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1872. His wife survived him for a number of years. In their family were six sons and two daughters, and the daughters and three of the sons are still living.

Benjamin F. Edwards was reared to manhood in Henry county, Missouri, and in 1858 he returned to Greene county, and has since been identified with the agricultural pursuits in this part of the state, with the exception of the period of his service in the Civil war. He enlisted in 1862 as a member of Company B, Eighty Missouri State Militia, under Captain Cosgrove and Colonel McClurg, and in 1863 was commissioned second lieutenant of Company A, Second Missouri Light Artillery, with which he served until 1864, when he resigned and returned home.

In 1865 Mr. Edwards was united in marriage to Miss Sarepta J. Washburn, who was born upon the farm where she now resides, a daughter of John Washburn, one of the early settlers of Kentucky. After his marriage Mr. Edwards took charge of the old Washburn farm of two hundred acres and began to further improve the property, placing the fields under a high state of cultivation and also raising stock of excellent grades. He now raises, feeds and fattens stock, shipping about two carloads of cattle annually and a large number of hogs.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards has been blessed with two children yet living, and they also lost a son, John Lewis, who grew to mature years, was married and settled at Great Falls, Montana, where his death occurred. The daughters are Anna, wife of H. Clay Ashlock, who holds a lucrative position in St. Louis; and Nellie G., the wife of Dudley Green, of Kane township, Greene county.

Mr. Edwards cast his first presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, but since that time has supported each presidential nominee of the Republican party. He has served for six years as highway commissioner and also as a member of the school board for fifteen years and acted as its president for a number of years, during which time he put forth earnest and effective effort in behalf of the system of public instruction. He is a Master Mason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to the post at Greenfield. He has a wide acquaintance throughout Greene and Jersey counties, where he known as an honest farmer, the qualities of his manhood being such as have gained for him the trust and good will of his fellow men.
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