John Montgomery Edwards (Biography)

[genealogynut]

Taken from 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, 1928.  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 frieght 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 Van Buren 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 when 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.