Edwards, Allen bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page pages 430 & 433, sketch of farm on pages 431-432; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst

Allen Edwards own and occupies a well developed and valuable farm in Ellisville Township. It consists of one hundred and eleven and a half acres on section 6, lying on the first and second bottoms of the Spoon river, and is tillable throughout its entire extent. When taken possession of by Mr. Edwards in February, 1883, the property was much run down. By well-directed efforts it has been brought to a good condition, being now supplied with neat fences, good farm buildings of various kinds, and an orchard having been set out upon it. The modern barn, which is one of its adornments, was put up in 1889.
The gentleman of whom we write was born near Rarden, Scioto County, Ohio, April 10, 1828. His father was Jesse Edwards, a native of Kentucky, whose history is noted at greater length in the sketch of Samuel Edwards found elsewhere in this Album. Our subject was reared on a farm and in his boyhood learned the various details of country life and labor. He attended the subscription and free schools, walking three miles to the temple of learning. This was a log building, with a huge fireplace, greased paper windows, slab benches and no desks except that along the wall at which the writing exercises were done.
Young Edwards was but four years old when his father died and when he was sixteen he took charge of the farm he had helped to clear and cultivate. He carried it on for his mother until his marriage in 1851, then rented it for a time. He subsequently bought eighty acres of the homestead, built a home and farmed there until 1864. Feeling called upon to aid in the defense of his country he volunteered October 1, and was enrolled in Company G, One Hundred and seventy-fifth Ohio Infantry.
Mr. Edwards was mustered into the service at Camp Denison and with his comrades stationed at Columbia, Tenn., where they did guard duty until the return of Hood. They then participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, chased the forces of the rebel General across the Tennessee River and returned to Columbia to continue their guard duties until June. Our subject was transferred to the one Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry, Company D, and sent to Huntsville, Ala., where he acted as a guard until his term expired. September 28, 1865, he was mustered out at Nashville and receiving an honorable discharge returned to Ohio to be paid off at Columbus. His hearing was injured by the concussion of a cannon which was fired over his head at Nashville.
Mr. Edwards returned to his former home and occupation. During the fall he and his brother William rigged up teams and came to Illinois, being twenty days on their way to this county. They spent the winter here, but our subject thinking the weather too severe, returned to Ohio in April, 1866. He settled on his place there and continued his farming operations until the fall of 1870. He then sold and removed to Cass County, Mo., by team, locating on improved land near what is now the west line of the county. He bought fifty acres, continued the improvements and rented other land, occupying the cabin which stood upon the farm.
Our subject did not like hard pan and dry weather and in 1875 rented his property and came to Ellisville, journeying as before with a team. He first rented a farm in Deerfield Township, operating two hundred acres for six years. He then rented in Young Hickory Township a twelvemonth, after which he purchased his present home. The deed was made out in the fall of 1882 but he did not take possession until the following February. Its nearness to Ellisville, which is distant but three-fourths of a mile, gives it a special value. Mr. Edwards gives his attention principally to the cultivation of grains, but also raises hogs in considerable numbers. He generally has from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five head of a high grade. He keeps graded draft horses, finding use for two teams almost continually.
The marriage of our subject took place in Adams County, Ohio, September 28, 1851. His bride was Miss Catherine McCann, a native of that county, born near West Union. Her father, Thomas McCann, a Pennsylvanian, was an early settler in Ohio, and carried on the trade of a potter on his farm. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The family of our subject and his good wife comprises five children. Burris M. is a carpenter in Ellisville; Morton died in Ellisville Township, February 19, 1887, leaving a daughter, Nellie, who is with her grandparents, our subject and wife; Sarah Emeline married Martin Weaver, a farmer in Young Hickory Township; George B. is his father's assistant at home; Samuel S. is attending Knox College at Galesburg.
Mr. Edwards has been the incumbent of several of the township offices. In commemoration of his army life he bears a part in the workings of Casper Schleish Post, No. 618, G. A. R. He casts his vote with the Democratic party. On another page the reader will notice a view of the comfortable residence of Mr. Edwards, with its rural surroundings.