EDWARDS-L Archives
Archiver > EDWARDS > 2002-02 > 1013375122
From:
Subject: [EDWARDS-L] Col. Elisha A. EDWARDS (1825-1898) - Obit - MA, KS
Date: 10 Feb 2002 14:05:22 -0700
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: EDWARDS, COBB, KING, SHELDON, LYMAN, BARTLETT, BRONSON, GAYLORD,
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FUU.2ACEB/4385
Message Board Post:
Springfield Republican, January 18, 1898: "DEATH OF COL ELISHA A. EDWARDS, HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COMMISIONER, Who Had Served 31 Years and Held Many Other Offices – Southampton’s Leading Citizen – Death Came Quite Suddenly.
"Col Elisha A. Edwards, Hampshire’s veteran county commissioner, died at his home in Southampton at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon at the age of 73 years, 10 months and 23 days. He was taken quite ill in Boston a few days ago and called to his aid a physician there. He was thought able to take the trip home and accordingly returned to Southampton and was at once attended by Drs. A. C. Cobb and O.W. Cobb. Pneumonia finally developed, and though not a very severe case, it was soon noticed that other troubles made their appearance Thursday, and that night heart ….[illegible] … his case was pronounced as hopeless and he continued to sink and did not rally and at 2 o’clock he passed away with his immediate family and brothers and sisters at his bedside.
"The death of Col Edwards removes one of Hampshire county’s leading men, one who had given largely of his tie to the public service and whose interest in the best of the local life was always alert and helpful. He was one of the old rulers of Hampshire county and of his town, and this is said to his credit for the kind of service which Col. Edwards gave to his community had the breadth and depth of good citizenship, and his leadership in local affairs was far from being of the offensive sort. From his many connections he had come to be loved and respected by the whole community, and there will be many this morning who will say they have lost a true friend. His long service as county commissioner was very unusual and marked by sagacity, good judgment and fairness which always made his re-election a mere matter of form and only a question of majorities. At the time of his death he was serving his 31st year as county commissioner, and for 26 years he had been chairman !
of the board, This made Co. Edwards the senior in his office in the state.
"He was a model official, his calm demeanor and unfailing good nature making him easy of approach and he had a fixed habit of taking time in considering a question and hearing al sides and his opinion when reached was something that could be relied upon and one which one need not expect to be changed without very strong reason. He knowledge of law as relating to the duties of county commissioners and the problems coming under their jurisdiction was thorough and he was often sought for advice. His frequent attendance upon hearings at the state-house in Boston had given him an acquaintance with men all over the state and probably few county officials had ever enjoyed jut the experiences which he had. Col Edwards was especially popular with men as a presiding officer at public hearings. He was kind and courteous to witnesses and one could always be sure that he was listening to all the testimony and that the most insignificant contributions would be weighed by him when arrivin!
g at his decision. Although in politics for so long he had made few or no enemies. He was straightforward and stood squarely for what he believed to be right. He enjoyed the work and gave much time to it, his freedom from business cares of a personal nature making it possible for him to do so.
"The name of Edwards has always been among the foremost in everything connected with Southampton. The family name is of Welsh origin, the emigrant ancestor, Alexander Edwards, leaving Wales in 1640, settling in Springfield and removing afterward to Northampton, where he died. Samuel Edwards, born in 1716, was the grandfather of the late Prof Bela B. Edwards and also of Elisha Edwards, the father of Col E. A. Edwards. Elisha A. Edwards was the second child born to Elisha and Julia (King) Edwards. He was reared in Southampton and in early life chose farming as his vocation. He taught school in the winter months. At the age of 16 he joined the militia., was promoted from time to time, and became colonel, resigning his position after eight years of service. October 1, 1861, he enlisted in defense of his country, raised a company of over 100 men, as Co B, 31st Massachusetts volunteer infantry. He went to Pittsfield and then to Lowell and afterward to Boston. From there the regim!
ent went South, marching into New Orleans May 1, 1862. While there he was taken sick and was discharged September 5, 1862.
"After his return to Southampton he was unable to engage in any kind of business, but he recovered and resumed his usual work. He had always taken and active part in politics and was a stanch repulbican. He had served as the moderator of the annual town-meetings for more than a score of years. He was town clerk for 13 years, selectman and assessor three years, andn was justice of the peace for 46 years. He had also served as postmaster of Southampton. He was a member of Jerusalem lodge of Masons of Northampton; also a member of William L. Baker post of the Grand Army. He was a member of the Congregational church and the First parish, where he will be greatly missed. He was one of the incorporators and trustees of the Hampshire County savings bank of Northampton. He was one of the trustees of the Sheldon academy corporation, of which organization he had been secretary and treasurer for nearly 30 years. He was also president and trustee of the Southampton library association.!
When the town celebrated her 150th anniversary on July 23, 1891, Col Edwards acted as president of the day. In 1857 he visited Kansas with a view of locating there, and for a few months he was a book-keeper for the national aid society of Lawrence. He married Henrietta L. Sheldon, May 12, 1846, taking up their abode in Southampton. Four children were born to them, Mrs. Alice Lyman, Mrs Emma H. Bartlett, Mrs Isabella G. Bronson, Mrs. Anna K. Sheldon. Three of the children survive him, Mrs Bartlett dying in 1890.
"Col and Mrs Edwards observed their golden wedding anniversary in 1896 with a pleasant family reunion. Mrs Edwards survives her husband with three sisters and two brothers, Mrs Martin Gaylord of Easthampton, Mrs Eunice Gaylord, Miss Caroline Edwards and George K. Edwards of Southampton and Charles L. Edwards of Lawrence, Kan. The funeral will be attended at his late home Monday afternoon at 2.20 o’clock.
This thread: