Illustriana Kansas, page 359
John Montgomery Edwards, prominent farmer, breeder and feeder of
livestock, was born in Coffey County, Kansas, April 2, 1877, son of
John Cram and Martha Jane (Canon) Edwards.
The father was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, March 26,
1819, and was a teacher in rural schools for 20 years. Thereafter for a
period of 40 years he was a colporter. His death occurred
in Elk county, Kansas, January 26, 1903. His ancestry was Scotch.
Martha Jane Canon was born in Hampshire County, Virginia,
February 11, 1846, and died in Elk County, Kansas, February 14,
1929. Of Irish extraction, she taught music and elocution and
superintended rural Sunday School.
John Montgomery Edwards attended rural school and from 1892
until 1899 was a freight hauler and cattle herder in southern Kansas
and the Indian territory. He then entered the real estate business as
senior member of the firm of Edwards & Edwards, continuing until
1921. At the present time he is a farmer and livestock raiser and
feeder. He is a Republican.
On October 15, 1910, he was united in marriage with Mary
Rebeckah Leonard at Leslie, Arkansas. Mrs. Edwards was born
in VanBuren County, Arkansas, September 17, 1882, and is associated
with the Leslie Herald, a weekly newspaper. There are six
children, Merril Montgomery, born November 23, 1911; Laura Marie, born
December 12, 1912; Chelsa Leonard, born July 30, 1914; Austin Kenneth,
born June 18, 1917; Beuna Celine, born August 15, 1919; and Jennie
Ernestine, born June 3, 1921. The oldest son, Merril, is a
student in the Longton High school. Merril and Laura were
graduated in 1932, while the three younger ones are in rural school.
Mr. Edwards' rule of life is the Golden Rule. He was
elected superintendent of the Lone Star Union Sunday School in 1905 and
continued in that capacity until 1909 when he was elected
superintendent of the Ohio Union Sunday School, where he is still
serving and where for the past three years he has taught a Bible
class. Since 1920 he has been clerk of School District No. 10 of
Elk county, since 1925 has been a member of the School Office
Association of Elk County, Third Congressional District, and since 1930
has been a director of the school board department of the council of
administration of the Kansas State Teachers Association for the third
district. His hobby is reading.
Residence: Longton.
Note: It is interesting how these two brothers, Bishop and
John, give different birth and death dates for their
father. The death date for their mother does not agree
either. Submitted by L. Morgan
