Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-05-04

cares elsewhere. After dinner on Fri
day, he went TO the room. found the
door locked and was unable to arouse
his father 9 He gained an entrance and
found the parent dead lying as peace
| fully as though asleep, The body was
yet warm On the stand beside the bed
was found an empty two-ounce phial
| labeled laudanuna. This was known to
have been purchased the day before.
The story at once spread that Mr.. Ed
| wards had committed suicide, bat no
person who knew his strong character
and personal traits, entertain such idea
They believe, as does his family, that IL
was an accident. he mad been subject to
sleeplessness and frequently took small
quantities of laudanum to produce sleep.
| ON this occasion he doubtless took more
than intended This appears to be the
Judgment of the public, Immediately
an inquest was ordered by Justice Pol
lard. a Jury was eDlpanneled and post
mortem examination made of the body
The findings of the jury were that
death was caused by laudanum poison
administered by the deceased either acci-
dentally or with suicidal intent.
THE FUERAL.
~
Methodist church being overtaxed.
The remains lay in state at the hotel
for an hour before being removed to
the church, and at the church very
many citizens passed to view the famil-
| lar features, which seemed as in life. The
| funeral party consisting of relatives,
the city council and officials in carriages,
headed by the band. moved to the
church. Familiar hymns We're render
| ed, Scripture reading by Rev. Buffers.
prayer by Rev. Nuzum and an address
| by Rey. Stemen, in which he reviewed
| in candid terms the life and character
of Mr.. Edwards. Mayor Coffisnd spoke
| briefly and feelingly of his colleague in
| official life, paying a deserved tribute
/ to Alderman Edwards as citizen and
| official. He said he was gentleman
Of broad comprehension, capable of ad-
ministrating large and small problems,
a man who had reared large and useful
| family, to whom, he as official and
citizen, extended public sympathy.
Band funeral dirge the long procession
| wended its way to the cemetery, where
all that remained mortal was deposited
| in narrow home beside the companion
| that had preceded him TO the other
world.
John Edwards was good citizen,
| firm and substantial, q man true to his
| word, upri ht All all that makes men
/ valuable, a financier keen and honorable.
| He had represented his ward in the city
| council for some years, where he demon
/ strated his capacity for good work and
natural advisor He was honored by
| being elected president Of the council at
| the reorganization two weeks since.
| Personally and officially he viii be
missed, but the greater loss will be to his
daughters and sons.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
MIR. JOHN EDWARDS was born Oc-
tober ~ 1888, at Birmingham. War
wickshire. England. He was one of a
family of five unildren He lived In
England until 1873, when he came 10
| America aud settled with his parents al
Milwaukee, after residing one year the
family removed to Coon Prairie, nine
miles north of Viroqua, where they re.
rnained five years. On January 2. 1864
he was united in marriage with Miss
Hulda A. Ketchum of Sparta. afteI
marriage they remained at Coon Prairie
four years when in 1865. with his family
OF two children removed TO Brookville
four miles south Of Yiroqua. In 1891
the family removed to yiroqua wher'
the home has been since. Mrs. Huldt
A. Edwards died September 5, 1899
Mr.. Edwards leaves eight children q
mourn his loss: Mrs. Alice A. Hall
Mrs Cora B. Solberg, Miss Mary l.
! Edwards Of VircquH. MRS. Mae
Coons, of Pot0si. Mrs. Kathryn Davies 0
Bangor. Messrs VIII and Frank Ed
! wards. OF Brookyille and Charles Q
J Vircqua