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Note: In 1850 John Joseph Edwards lived with his parents, Jefferson and Louisa (Crockrell) Edwards, in Farmers Ck. Twp, Jackson Co. IA. He was aged 4 yrs, b.c. 1846, OH, In 1856 he was still in Farmers Crk Twp, aged 10 yrs, single, b. IA. Little is known about his early years in Jackson Co. IA. He lived and worked on the family farm and attended the one-room schoolhouse. The extent of his education is unknown, but he could read, speak and write English. At age sixteen, John and his brother, Peter Edwards, swam across the Missouri River. The two brothers were going up the North Platte River, south of the Black Hills, and across the Powder River to Yellowstone and on to Virginia City MT to pan for gold in Alder Gulch and also to care for the Overland Mail and Express routing on the Oregon Trail. Later the two brothers separated, John J. returned to Iowa with his filled gold pouches tied on a strong rope slung across his shoulders and hidden beneath his shirt and heavy jacket. He went back to Iron Hill, Jackson Co. IA and brought farmland. (Info: Theodore R. Wendell, grandson) John J. is missing from the 1860 Jackson Co. IA Census. Circa 1862 he and Peter were working for the Overland Company in MT. Peter married Melissa Jane Edwards. They had at least eight children born in Madison Co. MT. The family moved to Virginia City, Iron Rod, Rochester, Madison Co, MT. John Joseph Edwards, b. 23 May 1846, Iron Hills, Farmers Creek, Jackson Co. IA., d. 19 Feb. 1930, Mercy Hosp., Cedar Rpds. IA, bur: Oak Hills Cem., m1) 3 Jan 1866, Cobb House, Jackson Co. IA, to Mrs. Sarah (Clark) Batey, b.c. 1845, CAN., d. in childbirth, in 1867, ae 22 yrs. bur: in Jackson Co. IA on the Tracey Farm by her first husband, Alfred Baty, Civil War Vet. The cemetery is located in Section 11, Brandon Twp, Jackson Co. IA., in the S.W. 1/4 of the S.E. 1/4 that was owned by Sarah's parents, Azariah and his wife, Anna (Service) Clark. In 1893, the Jackson Co. platmap atlas listed the land still belonging to Anna Clark. In the spring of 1988 on a bluff directly West of the house were the graves of Azariah Clark, (b. 1 Aug. 1809, Bethany, CT., d. 1873) and Anna (Service) Clark, (b.c. 1815-17 Lower Canada- later New York, d. Sept/Oct. 1893), also buried was Nora, dau. of the David and Jane Clark. Today there are no markers and the land has been cultivated for crops.
John Joseph Edwards, m2) 13 Mar. 1869, at the O.P. Butterworth Home, Brandon Twp, Jackson co. IA, to Mary Francis Conley b. 2 Dec. 1850, Iron Hills, Jackson Co. IA., d. ae. 29 yrs, 17 Aug. 1880, Iron Hill, Jackson Co. IA, bur: Willison Cem., Farmers Creek Twp, Jackson Co. IA, dau of Irish Catholic, John Conley of Garry Owen ? Ireland, and his wife, Bridget Sheridan - Riley ? of PA.
05 March 1870, Farmers Creek Twp, Jackson Co. IA - P.O. Iron Hill, John Edwards, head of family, 24 yrs b. IA, farm laborer; Mary Edwards, wife, 19 yrs, keepinghouse, b. IA; Louisa J. Edwards, dau., 7/12 mos or 01 yrs, b.c. Jan 1869/70, IA;
1880 Jackson Co. IA John Edwards, white male, 34 yrs, IA,OH,OH, ; Mary Francis Edwards, wife, 29 yrs, IA; IREL; IA; Louisa J. Edwards, dau, 10,single, IA;IA;IA; Henry Edwards, son, 08, IA; IA;IA; Maggie J. Edwards, dau, 07, IA; John B. Edwards, son, 04, IA: Robert H. Edwards, son, 01, IA; Unlisted children: Elnora Elizabeth Edwards; b. 16 Jan. 1877, d. 13 May 1878
Mary Francis (Conley) Edwards, d. 17 Aug. 1880, aged 29, from "Bright's Disease." (a disease named after a British Physician, Richard Bright, a vague and obsolete descriptive term of a disease of the kidneys, referred to a non suppurative inflammatory of degenerative kidney disease) Mary was buried beside her dau. in the Willison Cem, Jackson Co. IA. Mary Francis had give birth to a son, named Jefferson. He survived only a few days, and died 26 Aug. 1880 and was buried near his mother, and sister. John was devastated, so much sorrow in his life. He had lost his first wife, Sarah at a young age in childbirth, and now his beloved Mary Francis and son. Again the family gathered around John lending support. John realized he needed help with his family and finally hired a Irish-Catholic housekeeper, Mary Wallace, dau. of Thomas and Ann B. (Conklin) Wallace. On 1 April 1882, Jackson Co. IA, John Joseph and Mary Wallace were married. Three more children, Lydia Ann,1888, Martha O.,1892, and Richard W. in 1892, would be born into the family. Mary Wallace was first cousin to Lydia Belle Clark, who was married to Henry Theodore Edwards, son of John Joseph Edwards.
1885 Special Census. Jackson Co. IA - Household #185/193 John Edwards, age 38 yrs, white male, b.c. 1847, Jackson Co. IA, occupation farmer, range 85, township 2, section 18 Mary (Wallace) Edwards, age 23, white female, b.c. 1862, Jackson co. IA, occupation keeps house Louisa J. Edwards, dau, age 15, white fem., b.c. 1870, Jackson Co. IA Henry T. Edwards, son, age 13, white male, b.c. 1872, Jackson Co. IA Maggie J. Edwards, dau, age 11, white fem., b.c. 1874, Jackson Co. IA John B. Edwards, son, age 09, white male, b.c. 1876, Jackson Co. IA Robert H Edwards, son, age 06, white male, b.c. 1879, Jackson Co. IA
Between 1885/1900, John and part of his family moved to Correctionville, Rock Township, Woodbury co. IA. On 22 Jun 1900 the family was listed in the census, 11/160 sheet no 9, pg 167, Household # 139/140.
John Edwards, head family, white male, farmer, b. May 1846, 54 yrs old, Mar. 18 yrs, b. IA parents from PA. OH, could read, speak, English Mary M. Edwards, white fem., b. Nov. 1862, age 37 yrs, mar'd 18 yrs, 3 children were born, 3 children living, b. IA parents from Ireland, OH Lydia Ann Edwards, b. Nov. 1899, IA; Martha O. Edwards, b. Mar. 1890, IA Richard W. Edwards, b. Mar. 1892. IA;
Farmers Index: J.J. Edwards. wife, Mary, children: Richard, PO Box Correctionville, IA, R4, 0.40 acres, Sect 34
1920, Iowa Soundex E=363, Vol. 88/ E.D. 240/ Sheet 12/ Line 81 Joe Edward(s) w. 73, b. IA, resident: Woodbury Co. IA Marie M Edward (s), wife, age 57, b. IA (should be Edwards) Martha Wentell, dau. age 29, b. IA (should be Wendell) Ronled Wentell, son, 08, b. IA (should be Wendell)
Circa a1922 John and his wife, moved from Correctionville to Cedar Rapids, Linn Co. IA. The whereabouts of Martha (Edwards) Wendell and her son, Ronald is unknown. Mary passed away in 1927, buried at Oak Hills Cem., John d. 19 Feb. 1930, and lies buried next to his wife. His death certificate #C57-99101, gave the following info: address: Pleasant Valley Ave. West, male, white, widower of Mary Edwards, retired farmer, last worked about 1920, b. Jackson co. IA, to Jeff Edwards, b. OH, and Louisa Crockwell, b. OH, principal cause of death: myocardial degeneration, cerebral, arteriosclerosis, Contributory causes, just recovered from pneumonia, date of onset 1-15-1930, John was age: 83 yrs, 8 mos, 24 days old. Information was his dau. Martha Wendell.
"Edwards Funeral services for John J. Edwards will be held in home Pleasant Valley Ave West, at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. Blaine Hyten will officate, burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. His wife preceded him in death three years ago. Friends may call at the home this evening." Infor: Cedar Rapids Gazette, 21 Feb. 1930
Probate Records for J.J. Edwards,. #11182, held at Cedar Rapids, IA. Name of Decedent: Joe John Edwards, age 84, Last Resident: Cedar Rapids, IA, testate, Executrix: Martha Wendell, Cedar Rapids, IA.. Last Will and Testament of Joe John Edwards of Cedar Rapids, IA., dated 25th Jan. 1930, ordered that his executrix pay all just debts and expense including the expenses of his last sickness and burial. Also ordered that above his grave and that of his deceased wife, Mary, a suitable monument or monuments would be erected not to exceed the cost of $200.00. He named his children: Josephine Hopkins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Henry T. Edwards, Puyallup, WA., John B. Edwards, Millville, WI, Margaret Jane Miner, Hermosa, SD., Harmon Edwards, Debuque, IA, Anna Gralund, Martha Wendell of Cedar Rapids, and Richard William Edwards, Chadron, NE. Lastly, his youngest daughter, Martha Wendell, was appointed executrix of his last will and testament without bond. On 21 Feb. 1931, the final report and petition on discharge was read in court, total receipts- $733.53, vs total expenses $755.18, there was a $21.66 shortage and Martha Wendell advanced the amount herself out of her personal funds and settled all bills and charges in full, and that, therefore, there remains nothing for disposition among the heirs. Again the heirs were listed with their ages: Josephine Hopkins, 60, dau, Cedar Rapids, IA, Henry T. Edwards, 58, son, Puyallup, WA., John B. Edwards, 54, son, Millville, WI., Margaret Jane Miner, 56, dau., Hermosa, SD., Harmon Edwards, 51, son, Debuque, IA, Anna Gralund, 42, dau, Cedar Rapids, IA, Martha Wendell, 40, dau, Cedar Rapids, IA, Richard William Edwards, 38, son, Chadron, NE.
Note regarding picture of John Joseph Edwards, his grdkids and dau. Louisa, this picture was Seymour Edwards on 11/11/86 by Delores (Edwards) Schrader, the dau. of Dick Edwards and his wife, Tillie, who was the son of John Joseph Edwards, half brother of John Edwards, (--) of Seymour
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