Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 494-495

JAMES EDWARDS, a hardware merchant and postmaster of Hazel Green, Grant county, was born in that town Nov. 30, 1847, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (INGRAM) EDWARDS, both natives of England, who came to this country when young people, and here were married. In 1837 they both reached the United States, and after their marriage they lived at Hazel Green, Wis., until 1851, when he crossed the Plains to New Mexico on his way to the gold fields of California. In the spring of 1852 he was killed by the Mexicans on the latter part of his journey from New Mexico to California. Mrs. Elizabeth EDWARDS was left with a family of three children: (1) Thomas H., born in Lafayette county, Wis., in April, 1846, grew to manhood, and acquired his education in Hazel Green, where he learned the trade of wagon making, which has been his occupation there for many years. He married Miss Agnes THOMPSON, who was killed in the tornado which passed over this town in March, 1876. Mr. EDWARDS also lost a son in the same great calamity. Some time afterward he contracted a second marriage with Miss Annie CARTER, and is now living in Madison, Wis., where he holds a clerkship in the office of the Secretary of State. They have one daughter, Annie E. (2) James, mentioned below. (3) Eliza J., born in March, 1850, is now the widow of Thomas MAJOR, of Hazel Green. After their marriage they moved to Wyoming, where he died leaving her with eight children, and she now has her home in Baggs, Wyoming.

James EDWARDS, whose career forms the subject of this article, began life in the town of Hazel Green, where he received the benefits of a common school education, and when a young man learned the tinner's trade. In 1863 he started a hardware store in his native village, which he has conducted ever since with the exception of one year, when he was a resident of Utah.

In 1871 Mr. EDWARDS wedded Miss Mary A. METTERS, who was born in January, 1848, in Devonshire, England, a daughter of Thomas METTERS, now of Hazel Green, who came from England to the United States when Mrs. EDWARDS was a young girl. After their marriage Mr. EDWARDS settled in the village where he was born, and there he has continued in the hardware business to the present time. Mrs. EDWARDS died in May, 1900, leaving eight living children: (1) Ada L., born in 1875, had her schooling in her native village, and is now Mrs. John OATS, of Hazel Green. (2) Elizabeth A., a graduate of the Hazel Green high school, was born in 1876, is now one of Grant county's most successful teachers, having taught for six years in her native village. (3) George M., born in 1878, is engaged in a printing office in Platteville. (4) Thomas P. and (5) John I., twins, were born in August, 1879. John married Miss STONEBRAKER, and lives in Hazel Green. (6) Alice, born in 1883, is a graduate of the Hazel Green high school and lives at home with her father. (7) Clinton L., born in 1886, and (8) James, born in April, 1891, are both in the village schools. (9) Eva died in May, 1897, at the age of ten years.

Mrs. EDWARDS was a member of the Methodist Church, where she was regarded as a devoted Christian woman. Mr. EDWARDS has always been identified with the Republican party, and has been postmaster twelve years, receiving his first appointment from President Arthur, his second from President Harrison, and his third from the present administration. In local affairs Mr. EDWARDS has taken a prominent part, having been president of the village board for six years, and for the same time has been clerk of the school. He is a member of the town board, and is secretary of the creamery company of the village. Mr. EDWARDS belongs to No. 43, F. & A.M., Hazel Green, one of the oldest lodges in the State.

Mrs. Elizabeth EDWARDS was married a second time, becoming the wife of Thomas RICHARDS. They lived in Hazel Green, and here she was killed in the tornado of 1876. She had three children by Mr. RICHARDS: Ada E., now the wife of William OATES, of California; Johnson died as the result of injuries received in the same tornado in which his mother lost her life; and Elizabeth A. was killed in the same tornado. Mrs. EDWARDS, after the death of her husband in the far West, started a small store and her business so increased under her careful management that she became very successful.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck