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Note: From the Book "Past and Present of Saline County" Page 702-704 FREEL SANDERS EDWARDS. Back to stanch old Welsh stock does Mr. Edwards trace his lineage, and that in his character abide those sterling qualities which have ever marked the true type of the Welsh people is manifest when we come to consider the more salient points in his life history, which has ever been marked by consecutiveSALINE COUNTY, MISSOURI 703 industry and invincible spirit, eventuating most naturally in securing him a high position in the respect and confidence of his fellow men.
Freel S.Edwards is a native son of the Old Dominion state, having first seen the light of day in Carroll county, Virginia, on February 22, 1845, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Beamer) Edwards, who also were natives of that state. The subject's paternal grandfather, also named Isaac, was a native of rock-ribbed Wales, who came in young manhood to the United States and settled in Virginia, where he followed the pursuit of farming until his death. The subject's parents were married in Virginia and they too followed agricul- tural pursuits during all their active years. Both died and are buried near where they lived. The subject's mother was a faithful member of the "Hard- shell" Baptist church. They were the parents of eleven children, namely; Eliza, deceased; Philip E., deceased; Joshua A., who still resides in Virginia; Rosa, Charity, Absalom W., Jonathan, Mahala; Creed, who was a soldier during the Civil war and lost his life while in battle; Richard Manoah, and Freel S., the immediate subject of this sketch.
Freel S. remained under the parental roof until he was eighteen years of age and received a fair education in the schools of the neighborhood. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted as a member of Company D, Twenty-ninth Regiment Virginia Confederate Infantry, joining the command at Petersburg, that state, and serving until the end of the war. Much of his service was in and around Richmond and he also did considerable service as a member of the ambulance corps. He escaped being wounded and at the end of his period of service he took up the pursuit of farming, which he followed in Carroll county, Virginia, about seven years, and later in other locations in that state.
In 1883 Mr. Edwards came to Lafayette county, Missouri, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1901, when he came to his present location in Elmwood township, Saline county, and bought the eighty-acre farm which he now occupies and which he is successfully cultivating. The farm, which is close by the attractive little town of Elmwood, is highly improved and under the persistent and systematic efforts of the subject it has been made to return a handsome income. The splendid residence, commodious and well arranged barn, spacious outbuildings, well kept fences, up-to-date machinery and other accessories of a modern farm give evidence of the progressive and practical methods that are followed in its operation.
On November 8, 1866, Mr. Edwards was united in marriage with Phoebe Higgins, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Edwards) Higgins, who were natives of Grayson county, Virginia, where they spent their lives on a farm, and died. To the subject and his wife have been born nine children, who are briefly mentioned as follows: Jennie is tile wife of Alfred Peacock, a successful farmer in Lafayette county, Missouri; Flora is the wife of Wyatt Lewis, of Lafayette county, and they are the parents of four children, Wilma, Worthington, Anna Ruth and Lester; Thomas I. died at the age of twenty-eight years; Charles H., who is engaged in farming in Clay county, Missouri, married Sarah Elmaker and they have three children, Chap- pell, Christopher and Freel; Mary is the wife of William E. Vanarsdall, a farmer in Elmwood township, this county, and they have one child, Alfred; Joseph, who is a foreman in the Missouri Pacific railroad shops at Sedalia, Missouri, married Lizzie Lemons, and they have two children, Nannie Marie and Phoebe Elizabeth; Mattie is the wife of Buford Wood, a farmer in Elm- wood township, this county, and they have one child, Cecil; Rufus B. who is unmarried, remains at home and is operating the farm for his father; Delpha is the wife of John Forbes and they have two children, Earl and Russell. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are members of the Disciples church, holding their membership with the society at New Home chapel, to which they give an earnest and liberal support. Fraternally Mr. Edwards is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
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