Family:George Edwards and Catherine Johnston (1)

Harry Edwards was adopted.

Their first two children were born in Michigan. It is known that George's sister and her family lived in Detroit so it appears the Edwards family lived in Detroit before moving to Chicago. The Detroit City Directories for 1861 and 1862-63 had the following listings:

1861- Edwards, George, mason, Antoine near Elizabeth

1862/63. Edwards, George, mason, h Wilkins, bet St. Antoine and Hastings

There were no other George Edwards listed and the researcher indicated George was not listed in the 1864 Detroit Directory but was listed in the 1864 Chicago Directory. Incidentally, there was a Gilbert Edwards, mason (bds 53 Montcalm W.) listed in the 1862/1863 Detroit Directory who may possibly been George's relative (mason and first name Gilbert).

The 1870 Federal Census for the 8th ward in Chicago had the following entries shown below for the Edwards family. The census did not list the house address. It mistated Catherine's age which should have been 24. Also, place of birth for eldest two children appears to be Michigan, although written entries are in a grandiose style and barely decipherable.

Edwards, George 30yrs Brick Mason birth place England House value $1,500

               Catherine 30yrs Keeping House                     Ireland 
               Mary          9yrs At School                               Michigan
               George      8yrs At School                               Michigan
               Elizabeth   5yrs                                               Illinois
               Gilbert       1yr                                                 Illinois

George Edwards Family - 1880 Federal Census- 406 Maxwell Street, Chicago, Il ED 72, taken June 12, 1880:

This census provided what appears to be a previously unknown child-Edward and some other data that was different from information previously uncovered. Census information depends upon the accuracy of the information provided by the person in the family interviewed which may account for some of the differences. For example, Kate, the wife, was said to be 32yrs and her eldest child Mary said to be 19rs. Was Kate really 13yrs when Mary was born? Other sources would indicate she was 20 or so. Also Kate and George Sr. were listed as being born in Illinois (S/B Ireland and England, respectively). Kate's father was shown as being born in Pennsylvania and her mother in England. However, the rest of the data confirms that this was Grace's family. Grace was not born any earlier than 1885 so she is not listed. All members listed as white.

George Edwards male husband 40yrs bricklayer Kate Edwards female wife 32yrs Mary Edwards female daughter 19yrs job illegible George Edwards male son 18yrs bricklayer Lizzie Edwards female daughter 15yrs clerk (possibly adopted since New York shown as

                          Place of birth)

Gilbert Edwards male son 12yrs in school John Edwards (probably Mathew as Mathew crossed out and John entered) male son 9yrs

                         At school.

Katie (Catherine) Edwards daughter 7 yrs in school Fannie Edwards female daughter 5yrs in school Edward Edwards male son 2yrs Annie (Anna?) Edwards female daughter 1yr

George Edwards Family & John/Aunt Kate Family-1900 Federal Census Chicago ED#941 Image #19 (taken June 1, 1900) (revised to include Keane Family:)

I found both Grace's family and her sister Kate's family (i.e. John & Catherine Keane) listed on the 1900 Federal Census at 5838 S. Emerald, Chicago, Ill. A number of the older children were no longer living at home. The age listed for Grace was 15 as of her last birthday in May1900. Per census she was born May 1885. This did not agree with her Social Security application but did agree with the 1910 census in Hart.

EDWARDS FAMILY

1. Edwards, George Head (of Household) Male White 55 yrs (April, 1845) married

    Place of Birth: England; Father's POB: England; Mother's POB: England     
    Occupation: Stone Mason
    No. of years in U.S.: 50 yrs
    Year immigrated: 1850

2. Edwards, Catharine Wife Female White 53 yrs (May, 1847) married

    POB: Ireland; Father's POB: Ireland; Mother's POB: Ireland
    Occupation: None
    No. of years in U.S.: 46 yrs
    Year immigrated:  1854

3. Edwards, Fanny Daughter Female White 25 yrs ( January, 1875) single

      POB: Illinois; Father's POB: England; Mother's POB: Ireland
     Occupation: Dressmaker

4. Edwards, Anna Daughter Female White 20 yrs (January, 1880) single

     POB: Illinois; Father's POB: England; Mother's POB: Ireland
     Occupation: Telegrapher

5. Edwards, Grace Daughter Female White 15 yrs (May, 1885) single

     POB: Illinois; Father's POB: England; Mother's POB: Ireland
     Occupation: At School

6. Edwards, Harry Adopted Son Male White 9 yrs (January, 1891) single

     POB: Illinois; Father's POB: New York; Mother's POB: New York
     Occupation: At School

KEANE FAMILY

1. Keane, John Head (of Household) Male White 29 yrs (Feb 1871) married

     POB: Illinois; Father's POB: Ireland; Mother's POB: England
     Occupation: Plasterer

2. Keane, Kate Wife Female White 27 yrs (Feb1873) married

   POB:  Illinois; Father's POB: England; Mother's POB: Ireland
   Occupation: None

3. Keane, Harry Son White Male 3yr (Dec 1896)

   POB: Illinois; Father's POB: Illinois; Mother's POB: Illinois
   Occupation: None

4. Keane, Raymond Son White Male 1yr (Sept 1898)

   POB: Illinois; Father's POB: Illinois; Mother's POB: Illinois
   Occupation: None

The 1920 Federal Census for Chicago ED#485 taken at the family residence 7545 S. Clyde Ave showed the following entries:

George Edwards Sr. - Head 80 yrs occupation: none Catherine Edwards - Wife 79 yrs occupation: none Harry C. Edwards - Son 27 yrs occupation: Artist, Art Shop Catherine Keane - Daughter 46 yrs occupation: none John J. Keane - Son-In-Law 48 yrs occupation: Builder, houses Helen Keane - Grand Daughter  ? yrs occupation: none Thomas Killian- Son-In-Law 44 yrs occupation: Railroad Clerk Frances Killian - Daughter 44 yrs occupation: none Grace (Toots) Killian - Grand-daughter 15 yrs occupation: none

Comment: The recession of 1920-21 was the sharpest downturn the United States had ever faced. Unemployment reached 10%, foreign trade dropped by almost half, prices fell more than 20%. The overall economy recovered quickly, continuing to stay strong until 1929.