The Portland daily press., 1886-12-24
John Edwards.

MI. John Edwards, the oldest printer in
Portland, died in this city yesterday morn
mg at 5.l5 o'clock Of complication Of dis
eases, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr..
Edward \. Noyes, on Daaforth street.
Mr.. Edwards was born on Hanover street,
Boston, Nov 6, 1897. His father was Thorn
as Edwards Of that city, a highly respected
and influential resident Of Boston, who grad
uated at Harvard in I'LL, and was Judge Ad-
voeate General in our Army in the Reyolu-
ton. lie was one Of theft members of the
Massachusetts Society Of the Cincinnati and
several years its secretary, which position he
held at the time Of his death in 1906. The
family came to Portland in 1914 and John
soon after went into the Argus office to learn
the printers trade. He worked as an ar
prentice for year and then went TO Frye-
burg to attend the academy in that town.
When he was sixteen years old he returned
to Portland and obtained employment In the
Advertiser Office as conpositor and after
wards published The Wreath" At the
age OF twenty-one Years he purchased an in.
terest in the JOB printing Office Of Arthur
ohirsey and remained there until he became
connected with the Advertiser as one of the
publishers.
II WAS ID 1870 or loas that he bought a half
Interest in the Advertiser Of Shirley Jacoh
Hill bought the other half in 1sas. The frn,
name was Hill & Edwards. In abaut two
years Mr.. Edwards sold half of his share in
the paper to his brother, William t.. who
was eighteen months his junior In 1929
Mr.. Hill retired and the paper was published
by the two 5rothers, under the firm name of
}. d w. +. Edwards. In 1887 John Edwards
sold his interest to J. NJ. Gerrish and the
firm name was changed to Gerrish & Ed
wards, William Il. Edwards remaining. He
afterwards started the Umpire and Orion in
Portland.
When Ar. Edwards became one of the
owners Of the Advertiser, there were two
editions, weekly and semi-weekly. The
weekly edition had circulation of about
ZOO copies and the semi-weekly of perhaps
1000 The daily edition started in 1881, at
tanned circulation Of about 1900. Before
the daily issue began the mechanical work
was performed by one journeymen and four
apprentices, with the aid Of Mr.. Edwards
and lis brother. The brothers also attended
to the editorial work.
After The sale to Mr.. Gerrish, Mr.. John
Edwards went to Bangor Mr.. Marcbant
the editor Of the Wing and Courier was in
poor health and in the fall of 1897 made a
voyage to the West indies, hoping for relief
The paper was left in charge Of Mr.. I'd
wards, and in May, 1898. Mr. Marchant re-
turned and concluded to sell his interest in
me property to Edwards. Until August
1911. me wing ana Courier was accordingly
carried on by Messrs. Edwards q Smith.
Mr. Smith being Marchant's former 3artupr-
Then Mr.. Edwards sold his interest to John
>. oayward and returned to Portland
On July -, 1912. he issued the first num-
Der OF the Morning Bulletin as a tri-weekIy
In the course OF q couple of months the
name was changed TO the Portland Bulletin
and the triWeekiy publication was continued
until september ., ls47. In 1915 Mr.. Ed
wards purchased OF ID. G. COlesWortbv fba
weekly Tribune and continued its publica-
ton under the name OF the Tribune ana Bui-
ietln. The weekly Tribune and BnIi,.fiu
and tri-weezly Bulletin were suspended sim
ultaneOusly and the publication Of = doii,
edition was begun Immediately under liz
name Of Umpire. Mr. Edwards sold me
umpire after lew months to i. o. j. Smith
VINO continued its issue through the Taylor
campaign
ployed as a printer in Portland In Jann-
airy, 1895, he Went to Sherbro0ke on the
Grand Trunk Railway aud for wear man.
aged the Canadian Times Returning In
Portland he worked ia the newspaper
offices until his failing health compelled him
to retire from active business
Mr.. Edwards was a man of remarkable
intelligence and retained his mental bowers
I'LL the last He was Unitarian When
a hoy he attended The old C0ckerel Church
on Hanover street, Boston. He was de-
cided Republican but never held any Office
save that Of councilman from Ward 5 in
1871. lie was member Of the Society Of
the Cincinnati, and his death leaves non
W. !. Preble the only member in this CITY.
Mr. Edward married Sarah Merrill in |
Isl She was the daughter Of Othne Mer !
riil, an old Portland merchant. She died in (
1863, leaving three sons and a daughter, The !
oldest son, John, was an officer in the regu (
iar United States army. His death occurred |
a few years ago Charles is now connected |
with the United States Lighthouse Depart (
ment. Henry is in business in On cago. The |
daughter is the wife of Mr.. Edward a. |
Aoyes, treasurer of the Portland Savings |
Bank.
The funeral of Mr. Edwards will take
place at the house this afternoon at 2.3o
o'clock.