Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 931
WILLIAM S. EDMONDS

The EDMONDS family was one of the first to locate in Jackson township, Harrison county, where the family have been prominent in the history of the county for more than half a century. William S. EDMONDS was born in this township and has spent his entire life here in agricultural pursuits. He has one of the best farms in the county and a beautiful country home, which is modern in every respect. He is one of the most extensive cattle and hog raisers in the township and ranks high among the leading agriculturists of a county which boasts of many excellent farmers.

William S. EDMONDS, the son of Orson and Mary A. (BURNS) EDMONDS, was born November 2, 1859, in Jackson township, Harrison County, Iowa, near where the town of Orson now stands. His parents were natives of Michigan and Baltimore, Maryland, respectively, and moved with their respective parents parents to Wisconsin, before their marriage. After they were married in Wisconsin they came at once to Harrison county, Iowa, and located in Jackson township. They drove through from Wisconsin to this county in a wagon and located on land which Orson EDMONDS had bought two years previously, while working in the county. He became a large landowner and at one time had more than 700 acres. He lived in this township until his death. He was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and was a Democrat. Six children were born to Orson EDMONDS and wife.

William S. EDMONDS was the eldest child of his parents and remained at home until he was married. His father being a large landowner, he had plenty of work to do during the summer vacations of his school days, and by the time he reached his majority was well qualified to take the management of a farm of his own. Before he was married, in 1892, he had bought part of his present farm, and to this he has added acre after acre, until he now owns 422 acres of good land. He gives a portion of his attntion to stock raising and feeds from four to five carloads of cattle and about 100 head of hogs for the market each year. He has a fine set of buildings on his farm, including a comfortable home, large and commodious barns and outbuildings and every modern convenience which is demanded by the twentieth-century farmer.

Mr. EDMONDS was married on January 27, 1892, to Molly E. KING, who was born in Ohio and is a daughter of Addis and Lucretia (SAFFELL) KING. Her parents were natives of Ohio and came to Harrison County, Iowa, in 1884 where they located on a farm in Little Sioux township, where they lived for four years. They then moved to Morgan township where they lived until 1912, and then retired and moved to Little Sioux to spend their declining years. Mr. EDMONDS and his wife have three children: Florence, born on January 3, 1893; Roy, born September 4, 1897, and Oryl, born March 13, 1906.

Mr. EDMONDS and his family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a leader in Democratic circles in his township for many years and has served three terms as trustee of Jackson township. His long service in his office indicates that he is highly regarded by his fellow citizens. Mr. EDMONDS takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his township and county and never fails to ally himself with those measures which he feels will benefit his community.

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