JOHN L. EDWARDS, ex-postmaster of Belsano, Cambria county, and a leading business man of near that place, is a son of Lewis L. and Mrs. Anna Davis (nee James) Edwards, and was born in Cambria township, this county, September 18, 1846.
He was reared upon a farm and educated in the public schools. In 1868, he located upon a farm near Nicktown, this county, and cultivated that farm three and one-half years. Subsequent to this he followed blacksmithing eight years at Belsano, and then located upon a farm near Belsano in Black Lick township, and has resided there since, engaged in agricultural pursuits, lumbering, etc. He is an extensive land-owner, owning in all four hundred acres of improved land and six hundred acres of timber land, all underlaid with coal and minerals. He also owns seven acres in the village of Belsano, which is well improved, having a good house and other buildings upon it. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been steward and trustce cighteen ycars. Politically he is a republican, and served as postmaster of Belsano, from 1871 to 1879. He has also been assessor and auditor of his township.
Fraternally, he is a member of Summit Lodge, No. 512, F. and A. M.; Belsano Council, No. 182, Jr. O. U. A. M., which latter lodge he served as treasurer in 1894-'95-'96.
March 26, 1866, he married Eliza J., a daughter of Edward Thomas, by whom he has seven children: Walter, on the old homestead; William, in California; Minnie B., the wife of Frank Amond, of Vintondale; Morton, a teacher in the public schools of Black Lick township; Vinton, Oscar and Bertha at home.
