Riley Edwards (1929)

EDWARDS, MOON, FARMER

Posted By: Linda Brittain (email)
Date: 11/24/2006 at 14:00:37

Earlham Library Collection
August 1929

Riley Edwards, 96
Oldest Man Dies

Born in Virginia in 1834, He Had Lived In Earlham and Vicinity 42 Years.

Riley Edwards, Earlham’s oldest man, passed away last Thursday afternoon at his home in west Earlham. Death was due to cancer. He was 96 years old and had lived approximately the last 42 years of his life in or near Earlham.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon by the Rev. S. N. Hester. Interment was in Earlham Cemetery. The following biography was read at the aged man’s bier:

Riley Edwards was born in Virginia, July 22, 1834. While he was yet a small boy his parents moved to Hamilton County, Indiana.

He was united in marriage to Mary Moon on October 5, 1860. Unto them six children were born. After his marriage he lived in Hamilton and Morgan Counties, Ind., until 1887, when with his family, except the oldest daughter Anna, he moved to Earlham, which place has been his home with the exception of four or five years.

Riley Edwards was a carpenter by trade, which profession he followed until old age came upon him.

He was converted in early manhood and became a member of the conservative body of the Society of Friends. He was very faithful in the study of the Bible even in his declining years.

On August 1, 1929 he answered the summons of the Angel of Death “Come for thy Lord, calleth thee,” having lived to the remarkable age of 96 years and 10 days. His wife Mary preceded him in death by 18 years. Also two daughters and one son. Anna E. Farmer, of Indianapolis, Ind., Ella and Walter Edwards, of Earlham were with their father at the time of his death.