THOMAS J. EDWARDS.

THOMAS J. EDWARDS.
Wyoming with its pulsing industrial activities is continually drawing to the state men of enterprise who recognize the opportunities of the growing west and see here the chance for advancement along the legitimate lines of trade and commerce. Such a one is Thomas J. Edwards, proprietor of the Dundee Woolen Mills. which is one of the most important productive industries of Rock Springs. He was born in Cambridge, England, June 24, 1845, a son of the late John Edwards, who was a native of England and a blacksmith by trade. The father spent his entire life in his native country, there passing away in 1889 at the age of seventy years. His wife bore the name of Elizabeth (Robey) Edwards and was also a life-long resident of England, where she passed away in 1891, after reaching the eighty-fourth milestone on life’s journey. The family numbered six children. Thomas J. Edwards pursued a public school education in Cambridge. England, to the age of fifteen years, when he started out to provide for his own support. He was apprenticed to William Pitt, proprietor of the University printing establishment at Cambridge, and there remained for several years. The position did not suit him, however, owing to the small pay which he received, and he therefore changed his occupation, turning his attention to blacksmithing, at which he completed an apprenticeship. He then followed the trade as a journeyman for five years. In 1870 he crossed the Atlantic to America and first settled in Detroit, Michigan, where he was employed in the Pullman car works, remaining in that city for a year. He then removed to St. Louis. where he secured a position in the shops of the Northern Missouri Railroad Company. and afterward worked in the shops of the Ohio & Missouri Railroad in East St. Louis. In 1872 he migrated westward and was employed on the Southern Pacific Railroad at Terrace, Utah, taking up the blacksmith’s trade. He afterward removed to Green River, Wyoming, where he took up his abode in the fall of 1872, entering the service of the Union Pacific Railroad. He continued there, however, for only a short time, after which he was employed by the Union Pacific at other points, continuing with that corporation at intervals through a half century. In April, 1916, he entered the clothing business under the name of the Dundee Mills, in which business he has since continued, and he is today one of the leading merchants of the city, conducting one of the fine tailoring establishments. His business career has been marked by steady progress and his ability, close application and indefatigable energy have brought him steadily to the front. In 1865 Mr. Edwards was married in Cambridge, England, to Miss Marie Ann Brown, also a native of that city and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown, both of whom have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have become the parents of two children: Thomas, who was born in Cambridge, England, and is a rancher residing at Green River, Wyoming; and Emma, who is the wife of William Chapman, of Cambridge, England. Mrs. Edwards passed away in Cambridge in 1869, when twenty-five years of age. Politically Mr. Edwards is a republican, having supported the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. Mr. Edwards is numbered among the pioneer settlers of the west and relates many interesting incidents concerning the men and events of the early days. It is the delight of his friends to find him in a reminiscent mood and listen to his tales concerning pioneer times. He is a business man of marked ability whose success is due to his own efforts. He deserves the prosperity that has come to him, for as a self-made man he has worked his way upward from the age of fifteen years, overcoming many obstacles and difficulties in his path and advancing steadily toward the goal of success.

Wyoming with its pulsing industrial activities is continually drawing to the state men of enterprise who recognize the opportunities of the growing west and see here the chance for advancement along the legitimate lines of trade and commerce. Such a one is Thomas J. Edwards, proprietor of the Dundee Woolen Mills. which is one of the most important productive industries of Rock Springs. He was born in Cambridge, England, June 24, 1845, a son of the late John Edwards, who was a native of England and a blacksmith by trade. The father spent his entire life in his native country, there passing away in 1889 at the age of seventy years. His wife bore the name of Elizabeth (Robey) Edwards and was also a life-long resident of England, where she passed away in 1891, after reaching the eighty-fourth milestone on life’s journey. The family numbered six children.
Thomas J. Edwards pursued a public school education in Cambridge. England, to the age of fifteen years, when he started out to provide for his own support. He was apprenticed to William Pitt, proprietor of the University printing establishment at Cambridge, and there remained for several years. The position did not suit him, however, owing to the small pay which he received, and he therefore changed his occupation, turning his attention to blacksmithing, at which he completed an apprenticeship. He then followed the trade as a journeyman for five years. In 1870 he crossed the Atlantic to America and first settled in Detroit, Michigan, where he was employed in the Pullman car works, remaining in that city for a year. He then removed to St. Louis. where he secured a position in the shops of the Northern Missouri Railroad Company. and afterward worked in the shops of the Ohio & Missouri Railroad in East St. Louis. In 1872 he migrated westward and was employed on the Southern Pacific Railroad at Terrace, Utah, taking up the blacksmith’s trade. He afterward removed to Green River, Wyoming, where he took up his abode in the fall of 1872, entering the service of the Union Pacific Railroad. He continued there, however, for only a short time, after which he was employed by the Union Pacific at other points, continuing with that corporation at intervals through a half century. In April, 1916, he entered the clothing business under the name of the Dundee Mills, in which business he has since continued, and he is today one of the leading merchants of the city, conducting one of the fine tailoring establishments. His business career has been marked by steady progress and his ability, close application and indefatigable energy have brought him steadily to the front.
In 1865 Mr. Edwards was married in Cambridge, England, to Miss Marie Ann Brown, also a native of that city and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown, both of whom have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have become the parents of two children: Thomas, who was born in Cambridge, England, and is a rancher residing at Green River, Wyoming; and Emma, who is the wife of William Chapman, of Cambridge, England. Mrs. Edwards passed away in Cambridge in 1869, when twenty-five years of age.
Politically Mr. Edwards is a republican, having supported the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. Mr. Edwards is numbered among the pioneer settlers of the west and relates many interesting incidents concerning the men and events of the early days. It is the delight of his friends to find him in a reminiscent mood and listen to his tales concerning pioneer times. He is a business man of marked ability whose success is due to his own efforts. He deserves the prosperity that has come to him, for as a self-made man he has worked his way upward from the age of fifteen years, overcoming many obstacles and difficulties in his path and advancing steadily toward the goal of success.