Edwards County History
(Source: "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois", 1900)

Edwards County, situated in the south-eastern part of the State, between Richland and White on the North and South, and Wabash and Wayne on the east and west, and touching the Ohio River on its southeastern border. It was separated from Gallatin County in 1814, during the Territorial period. Its territory was diminished in 1824 by the carving out of Wabash County.

The surface is diversified by prairie and timber, the soil fertile and well adapted to the raising of both wheat and corn. The principal streams, besides the Ohio, are Bonpas Creek, on the east, and the Little Wabash River on the west. Palmyra ( a place no longer on the map) was the seat for holding the first county court, in 1815, John McIntosh, Seth Gard and William Barney being the Judges.

Albion, the present county seat (population, 937), was laid out by Morris Birkbeck and George Flower (emigrants from England), in 1819, and settled largely by their countrymen, but not incorporated until 1860. The area of the county is 220 square miles, and population of 2,000 in 1890, is partly in this county, though mostly in White.

Edwards County was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, the Territorial Governor of Illinois.

Settled in 1818 by two Englishmen, George Flower and Morris Birkbeck, who sought land far enough south to escape frigid winters and far enough north to avoid slavery