Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-13
A Man Thoroughly Identified with
the Interests of Wood Go.

Wv HE TIC NEPORlEK ulu HOl
support the Hon. John Edwards
for member Of Assembly, we did
not take the position that he
would not make an able represen-
tative, but simply because he was
a democrat and we had an equally
good republican candidate. We
were defeated in the election and
want to state that no one questions
the fact but what Mr.. Edwards
will represent Wood County and
his constituents ably and we'll. To
acquaint those of our readers who
are not personally acquainted with
Mr.. Edwards and his business
career we will quote from the
Enterprise of recent date as to his
business history since arriving in
this county in 1859, which is
practically correct
John Edwards, father of the
gentleman who is now president
and general manager of the new
corporation, came to this county
in the year I854-thirty-six years
ago-and in company with Henry
Clinton, established the firm of
J. Edwards s. Co., which, though
it has had many changes in mem
bership, retained the same name
until the 18th day of Nov. 1890.
Messrs. Edwards and Clinton put
in double rotary saw mill at the
present site which had a saving
capacity of about one hundred
thousand feet Of lumber per day,
and was at that time the largest
mill on the Wisconsin River. 1t
has since been changed to a gang
mill, with about the same capacity,
In the year 1850, John Edwards
Jr., permanently settled here, TAX
ing charge of his fathers interests,
and having general supervision of
the business. In the year 1864,
Clinton was killed, and his inter-
ests reversed to the senior member
of the firm. Five years afterward,
John Edwards, ST.. died and the
property passed into the hands of
an administrator. After having
conformed to the various intrica-
cies of the law, the administrator
finally sold the property to the
four sons, John, George, Richard
and William, who still operated
the business under the name Of J.
Edwards & Co.
Largely through the efforts OF
this firm, the Wisconsin Valley
Railroad was begun in the year
1872 and finished in the year 1873.
They were not only heavy stock
holders, but were the financial
hackers of the concern, and when
the crash came in 1873, and insol-
vency was staring everybody in
the face, including the railroad
contractors, Messrs. J. Edwards &
Co, were called upon to meet the
requirements of their bonds; and
be it said to their credit, they
never flinched under the trying
ordeal.
In the year 1873, Messrs. John
Edwards and Thos. B. Scott
formed co-partnership, purchas-
ing the entire interest of the other
brothers, and having crossed the
Rubican of financial embarass-
ments, have conducted a success.
full business ever since. They
have manufactured and sold pei
year, from four million to fifteen
million feet of lumber the amount
varying according to their gooc
Or i'll fortune in getting their logs
to the boom.
During the first month of the
current year, Mr.. ] Edwards be-
gan the agitation of the building
of the Port Edwards, Centralia 6
Northern Railroad. His liberia
subscription to the enterprise gave
the stamp of earnestness to hi:
words, and as consequence, be