WM. B. EDWARDS
W. B. Edwards was one of the early settlers of Union, coming in the spring of 1867. During the days of his first settlement he was obliged to go to Taylor county for corn to make bread.
William B. Edwards, son of Amos and Naucy Edwards, was born in Pike county, Illinois, February 5, 1842. His mother died when he was quite young. In 1856, Amos Edwards removed with his family to Schuyler county, Illinois. William B., subject of this sketch, enlisted in that county, August 13, 1861, in the Third Illinois Cavalry, company H. He served in the western department. The first important engagement in which he took a part, was at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. At Haines Bluff, on the Yazoo river, he served as orderly for Col. DeCourcie, took part in the capture of Arkansas Post, where he served as orderly for Colonel Lindsley. He participated in many skirmishes and cavalry fights. He veteranized and was honorably discharged, October 20, 1865, at Fort Snelling. He returned to Schuyler county, and November 14th, of the same year, was married to Sarah J. Chapman, a daughter of James and Louisa Chapman. She was born in that county, January 17, 1849. James Chapman died in Schuyler county, in 1867. Mrs. Chapman came to this county with her daughter, Mrs. Edwards, and died here in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards took up their abode in Union township, May 2, 1867. He had been here the previous fall and purchased forty acres on section 29, where they lived until March, 1875, when they sold and bought the farm they now own and occupy. He owns eighty acres where he resides, and one hundred and sixty acres on section 26. All of this land is in a good state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have no children of their own. Cora M. Chapman, a sister of Mrs. Edwards, was reared by them. She is now the wife of Edwin Petit, of this town. The year Mr. Edwards came here, Indians were often seen. A party of forty Indians camped for several days near his residence, during their first year here.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 735-736.
