★  Edwards, John

John Edwards

:us34stars:
Edwards.jpg


Born: October 24, 1815

Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky

Father: John Edwards 1774 – 1840

Mother: Nancy Geiger 1781 – 1820

Wife: Elizabeth Jane Knight 1811 – 1853
(Buried: Green Hill Cemetery, Bedford, Indiana)​

Wife: Catherine Whisenand

Wife: Mary Burland Beavans 1860 – 1932
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Children:

Colonel Eugene Edwards 1835 – 1915​
(Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska)​
John Edwards​
Marcus Edwards​
Mary W. Edwards​
Susan Huldah Edwards​
William T. Edwards​
Montgomery Gray Edwards​
Nancy Edwards​
Clarence B. Edwards​
Alfred Edwards​

Occupation before War:

Attorney in Indiana​
1845 – 1846: Indiana State Representative​
1849 – 1852: Alcalde in California​
1852 – 1853: Indiana State Senator​
Member of Iowa State Constitutional Convention​
1856 – 1860: Iowa State Representative​
1857: Founder of the Patriot Newspaper​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Aide to Governor of Iowa, Samuel Kirkwood​
1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of Cavalry, on staff of Governor of Iowa​
1862 – 1864: Colonel of 18th Iowa Volunteers Infantry Regiment​
1862 – 1864: Served in Missouri, and Northern Arkansas​
1864 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​
1864 – 1865: Union Army Commander, District of South West Missouri​

Occupation after War:

1866 – 1869: Assessor for of United States Internal Revenue Service​
1871 – 1872: United States Congressman from Arkansas​
1872 – 1894: Attorney in Washington, D.C.​

Died:
April 8, 1894

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Rheumatism, cystitis, and asthenia

Age at time of Death: 78 years old

Burial Place:
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
 
Last edited by a moderator:
He spent most of his Civil War service in the vicinity of Fort Smith, Arkansas. After his regiment was posted at Fort Smith, Arkansas He then took part in the Camden expedition and then returned and remained in the Fort Smith area until the end of the war.
 
One contemporary had this to say about General John R. Edwards. "General Edwards, in appearance and in character, is a good type of a Northern gentleman. He is unassuming in his manners, and brave and chivalrous without being boastful and pretending. He has not a commanding person, and with strangers would not pass for what he is worth. With one exception, the portrait here published is a correct likeness: the expression of his countenance is much kinder than the portrait represents. He has blue eyes, a light complexion, and a sanguine temperament, and is slightly stoop-shouldered. When he walks, he usually drops his head forward, and keeps his face turned to the ground. He is not a brilliant man, but he is able and honest."

He was known as Honest John Edwards.

John Edwards.JPG
 
Back
Top