Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-09-11

The subject of this notice, who died at his
home in Irontou, on the 39th day of July,
1890, was prominent. and so well and
fayorabiy known, not only in bis own county,
but throughout ali Southern Missouri, as to
justify a more extended notice than has YET
appeared.
| Judge Edwards was born in Robinson
county, Tenn, July 18th, 1876, and was
therefore sixty four years and five days old
when he died.
| He CAME to Missouri in 1S43. and settled
| in business in Arcadia in 1880, soon after
/ the iron works at Pilot Knob were put in
operation, and seven years before Iron
| county was organized or Irontou was laid
out into town.
| While residing in Arcadia. he married
| Miss NJ. j. Petit, who survives him, to
mourn the loss of an affec.ionate and deyot-
| ed husband.
When Iron county was created by the
| Legislature in 1857, he removed to Iron
| ton, then being laid out in the forest, and
aided in the organization Of the new county,
being first appointed by the Governor. and
| subsequently elected, its first Circuit and
County Clerk. which positions he held un-
til 1862, when he retired from the office dur
Ing the war; then he pursued, for many
years, the practice of the law, living 4 quiet,
useful and unobtrusive life, surrounded,
wherever he went, by warm and devoted
friends.
He represented Iron county one or two
terms in the General Assembly at Jeffers on
City, was prominent and useful member of
the Judiciary Committee and, other COM
mittees, and though not given to speech
making, was very influential because Of his
conservative and careful course, his sound
sense and painstaking and industrious hab-
its. His advice was sought by the other
members on ali important measures pend
ing in the House.
Subsequently, he was elected member Of
the Constitutional Convention that framed
the Constitution Of 1875, and in it did n1eh
valuable work, his legal and clerical kDowi-
edge making him much more useful than
many who were without that training or ex-
perience.
He was elected, and served many years, as
Probate Judge Of Iron county, TO the entire
satisfaction of the public.
Ironton; retiring about year before his
death. He was efficient, kind, obliging and
attentive.
The issue Of his marriage with Miss Petit
were one son and one daughter; the son,
Thomas Edwards, entered the medical pro-
tesson, but died two years before his father;
the daughter, who survives him, is the wife
Of j, B. Walker. Esq, prominent member
OF our legal profession.
Without desiring to be enlogistic il may
trutbfully said that, while Judge Edwards
was not classical scholar, yet he had 3
good, sound, practical education. Being a
selfmade man, hewing out his own destiny
by his own good sense, honest purpose, and
sound intellect, he was well informed man;
and being kind and generous by nature he
was always q valuable member Of society.
H. was always modest, difident and re-
firing. and it required some pressure and
the needful occasion TO bring cut the real
force and energy Of his robustIy honest
character. No mere words Of praise could
equal, as praise. this simple fact-more than
forty years he lived in Arcadia Valley, and
no word was ever spoken, no hint expressed,
derogatory TO his integrity or his character
Competent and efficient in every position;
honest and faithful in every trust; warm
and faithful friend; 4 loving affectionate
and devoted husband and father-his mem
DRY will live long in the hearts Of the multi
tude of friends who mourn his loss.
Judge Edwards was not demonstratiye
about his religion, but he was an honest
man, true to his friends-enemies he had
noue-a moral, upright man. believer in
the teneIs of Christianity, and he lived the
life Of, and died. Christian.