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Note: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EDWARDS FAMILY by; Louis Edwards, son of John Edwards
I will write as my father told me. Grandfather Eli Edwards was born in 1767, somewhere in Connecticut and moved from there to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. His wife's maiden name was Hannah Wilsey. They came to Ohio in 1826. To this union was born 12 children, 6 boys and 6 girls namely: David, Thomas, Eli, Elijah, John, Jefferson, Sarah, Nancy, Hannah, Mary, Loucena and Susan.
Grandfather Edwards had two brothers killed in the Revolutionary War on Long Island, the first battle of the war. Grandmother was the lady that out ran the Indians. She had to go to the spring, about three hundred yards from the cabin to get water. The Indian was hiding in the bushes, she out ran him to the cabin. He said that he could out run most white men but that woman beat him easy. Grandmother was short chunky woman. Grandfather was a large man, broad shouldered, 6- foot- tall. He and the boys moved to Jackson County, Iowa, in the late thirties and died January 4, 1840. (I think this is wrong because I saw he and his wife's name in the 1850 census) aged 73 years. He and his wife are buried side by side in the Wilson Cemetery, Jackson County, Iowa. Father's oldest brother, David, married and went from Jackson County, to Butte City, Montana. He had a large family, one granddaughter by the name of Redfin that had 16 children, 8 boys and 8 girls, all rodeo riders, one girl won $250. saddle contest. David and his wife are buried near Butte City in the side of a mountain. Thomas Edwards never married. He died on the ridge from milk sickness, a disease very common at that time. Buried in Burnside Cemetery. Eli Edwards located in Jackson County, Iowa. He became a prosperous farmer and stock buyer. He was the grandfather of John Edwards that I went to see in 1926. He was a very rich man when he died. He was buried in Wilson Cemetery, also his wife, in the same lot that grandfather was buried. He had a large family, with names similar to our family; John, Monroe, Eli, Elijah, James and Ira. 6 boys and several girls. Elijah Edwards, was born 1783 and died 1861. He married Ruth Young. He located in Cumberland County, Illinois. He was the father of ten children, 5 boys and 5 girls. Namely: Andrew, Elijah, Jabez, Eli Lorenzo, Sarah, Mary Orpha, Clarinda, and Nancy. Buried in the Edwards Cemetery, Cumberland Co. Illinois. Jefferson Edwards, father's youngest brother, located in Jackson County, Iowa. Two of his children were living when I was out there in 1926. Young Jeff, they called him, he was about 70 years old then. Joe John of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A lot of grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Sarah (Sally) Edwards married Royal Page, grandmother of Perry Page, that's all we know. They settled in Ohio before father came. Pagetown was named after them. Aunt Sally as we called her was a Spiritualist. They were buried in the Stark Cemetery. Nancy Edwards married Horace Whitney. Grandmother of Nina Stark Surrel and great- grandmother of Glen and Ceptar Stark. Buried in Sunbury, Ohio Cemetery. Mary (Polly) Edwards married Ranson(m) Whitney. Daughter Nancy Barcus. Grandmother of Peter, Orin, James, Mary, Octave, and Minerva Barcus. Buried in Johnstown, Ohio Cemetery. Hannah Edwards married Frank Whitney. We do not know what became of them. Loucenia Edwards married Walter Whitney. Located in Lucerne County, Pennsylvania near Wilkes-Barre. Mother of Lorenzeo Whitney that was here several years ago. She had several other children, one or two boys killed in the Civil War. She is buried in Pennsylvania. You see father had four sisters marry four brothers. Something unusual and rare. Susan Edwards married Isaac Walker. To this union were born nineteen children. George Walker is the only living child. The Metser, Clarks, Searles and Slifes are grandchildren. John Edwards (great grandfather of Shelby Edwards) was born in Lucerne County, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1814. At the age of 12 years he came to Ohio in 1826, with his parents and settled in Delaware County, Ohio. When he was about 18 years of age, he bought 50 acres of land and had it deeded to grandfather for him until he was 21 years old. He gave $300 for it. The place known as the William Jacobus farm. Grandfather sold it to John Jacobus in 1836. Then, they all took a hike to Iowa. Father stayed there two or three years. Came back to Ohio. Bought the farm where Jackson nows lives. Sold that farm and bought where John Edwards now lives, 210 acres. Father was a great man to sing. He said that he could sing all night and never sing the same song twice. He had no education but nobody could beat him in figures. In 1835 he was married to Elizabeth Cockrell. To this union were born thirteen children. Minerva, Mary Rosel, Eli, William, Ellen, John, George, Martha, James Monroe, Nancy, Henry, and Elijah. George, Martha, and Elijah died when they were small. The rest grew to men and women and have have families. Elizabeth Cockrell Edwards died March 7, 1864, buried in Conelane Cemetery. On July 3, 1864, John Edwards and Elizabeth Ann Adams Garee were married. To this union were born four children. Namely; Clarinda, Viola, Louis Harvey, and Alice May. John Edwards departed this life March 22, 1894. Elizabeth Ann departed this life March 12, 1915. Both are buried in Sunbury, Ohio Cemetery.
Information from John D. Johnson, More About ELI EDWARDS: Burial: Jackson County, Iowa More About HANNAH WILSEY: Burial: Willison Cemetery, Jackson County, Iowa
Marriage Notes for ELI EDWARDS and HANNAH WILSEY: Eli Edwards was born in New York State in the year 1762: Married Hannah Wilsey about the year 1782: Had twelve children of which we have any record: Migrated with his family sometime in the year 1790 to 1814 to Luzerne County, Penn. Moved in the year 1826 to Harlem Township, Delaware County, Ohio, where in the year of 1836, he purchased a farm of 131 acres for $230. from the U. S. Military Land Agents: Sold part of this farm in the year of 1840 to James Mayfield. He moved the same year to Jackson County, Iowa, where he died soon afterward.
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