John S. Edwards (1841-1933)

EDWARDS, BUKER, WALLACE, CANNON, HUGHES

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/27/2021 at 18:05:57

From Nevada Evening Journal July 31, 1933 (page 4)

"Taps" Sound for John S. Edwards Civil War Veteran

Taps were sounded for John S. Edwards, 92, Civil War veteran, who was laid to rest in the Nevada cemetery today, following the funeral service at the Methodist Episcopal church at 2:30.

Mr. Edwards was laid to rest with military honors, the body being preceded to the cemetery by the color guard of Nevada Post No. 48 American Legion, the firing squad fired a salute and taps was sounded as the boy was being lowered into the grave.

With the passing of Mr. Edwards his old friends and comrade W. H. Toms is left as the sole survivor of the Civil War in Nevada and he was one of the mourners at the services.

Services were held at the Methodist Episcopal church where a large group of relative and old neighbors and friends gathered to pay a final tribute of respect to the earthly remains of one they had known so long and so well. His pastor Rev. Geo. A. Lawton officiated.

John S. Edwards was a native of Wales where he was born November 22, 1841, a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Edwards When he was a lad of but 9 years the family came to America and the father located and cleared out a homestead in the timber in the neighborhood of Manitowoc, Wis.

He died at his home at 1117 H Avenue, Saturday afternoon, July 20 at2:55 after a lingering illness of complications incident to his advanced years.

There John grew to young manhood and when the Civil war broke out he enlisted in Company I 27th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served until just approaching the famous siege of Vicksburg. It was while approaching Vicksburg that he was taken ill with typhoid fever and was in a hospital for many months. Deciding that he would never recover he was released and sent to his home, where he was at the time of closing of the war.

Following the Civil war the family moved to a Welsh settlement near Iowa City where they lived for some time. There he was married to Mary Buker and later moved to Greene county where they established a home near Glidden for a time, later moving to Harrison county near Dunlap.

In 1892 they came to Story county and settled on a farm just south of Nevada where the family home continued until about 16 years ago, when they moved into Nevada and established their home at 1117 H avenue.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards. The youngest son Earle S. Edwards was a victim of the flu, while in a southern army camp, on October 21, 1918 and just six weeks later the elder son William Edwards died at his home in Nevada.

Mr. Edwards is survived by his wife Mrs. Mary Edwards, the daughter Miss Carrie Edwards at home, a grandson Ralph Edwards of Nevada; the oldest sister, Mrs. Lizzie Wallace, 93, of Milwaukee; another sister Mrs. Hattie Cannon of Mississippi and a brother Edward W. Edwards of Iowa City, who is 10 years younger than the deceased.

the brother Edward, the youngest of the family, with his daughter Mrs. Clark Hughes, and soon Wm. Edwards and wife of Iowa City, were here for the funeral, as was Mrs. Amanda Edwards of Dunlap, a niece of Mrs. Edwards.

During his long residence in Nevada Mr. Edwards was active in the affairs of Jason D. Ferguson Post G. A. R. until death so thinned the ranks of that organization that its charter was surrendered.

He was also a member of the Brotherhood class of the Methodist Sunday school, being active and taking part in its work as long as his health permitted.

Mr. Edwards was a man of industry, of honesty and fine integrity and character--having those characteristics of the Welsh always outstanding.

He will be most kindly remembered by those who were favored with his acquaintance, and the family will be tendered the sympathy of a wide circle of friends in their hours of bereavement.

The old veteran had lived his life and lived it according to his measure of right and responded to taps a true soldier.