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Lewis L. Edwards
b.19 Mar 1814 Merionethshire, Wales, United Kingdom
d.9 Nov 1888 Cambria, Pennsylvania, United States
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m. 19 Nov 1808
(edit)
m. 1843
Facts and Events
LEWIS L. EDWARDS, late of Cambria township, and the founder of the Edwards family in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is of Welsh birth and parentage, born in county Mereveath, North Wales, in March, 1816. He learned sheep-herding and pursued that craft in his native country until 1842, when he emigrated to the United States. His brother, Robert Edwards, having preceded him to this country; settled upon a farm in Cambria township, nine miles north of Ebensburg, where he became a prosperous and successful farmer. Mr. Edwards was employed as a day-hand by his brother Robert and others in the neighborhood until after his marriage in 1843, when he engaged in farming and lumbering in Cambria township. Carefully husbanding the profits of his business, he purchased, in 1850, a farm of one hundred acres in Black Lick township, upon which he resided the remainder of his life. Subsequently he purchased one hundred more acres, and soon afterwards purchased six hundred acres of timber land, owning, at the time of his demise, eight hundred acres of valuable land. Mr. Edwards' only stock in trade when he landed in America was ability and willingness to work; but by careful and economical habits, good sound judgment and industry, he acquired an ample competence, and the latter years of his life were spent in practical retirement, enjoying the comforts and ease of a prosperous and successful business career. He passed away November 9, 1888, universally loved and lamented. He was a prominent member of the Calvinistic Methodist church, and served that organization as deacon for many years. He was also a life member of the American Bible society. Politically, he was formerly a whig; but upon the organization of the Republican party in 1856, he espoused its cause and principles, which he advocated the remainder of his life. He believed in the education of the masses, and served as a member of the school board of his township many years. He married Mrs. Ann Davis, nee James, in 1843, and became the father of six children: Elias and John L., whose sketches will follow; Ebenezer, Edward; Thomas L., whose sketch will also follow; and Robert. Mrs. Lewis L. Edwards was born in Llanbeder, South Wales. She came to America in 1836, locating in Pittsburg. Her family was Quaker stock. She was preceded to this country by two brothers, early in 1800; one settled at Chippewa Falls, in Canada, and Ebenezer located in Philadelphia, where he became a prosperous merchant and newspaper man. He was editor and proprietor of the Philadelphia Tribune, a strong anti-slavery organ. This branch of the Edwards family did their patriotic duty in the late Civil War, four of the sons serving in that conflict. They were David H., who served through the entire conflict, was a sharpshooter in the Sixty-first regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, and was the best shot of his regiment; William, of the Eleventh regiment, volunteers, lost his life in the service; Joshua served during the latter part of the service; and Elias, who entered the latter part of the service. Lewis L. Edwards, before coming to America, had charge of two thousand sheep on one of the highest mountains of Wales, the Avan Fywddn, and was noted for his fleetness of foot. An incident of his early experience in this country is given to show the pioneer condition of Cambria county even as late as 1853, He went into the woods to get a piece of timber for a sled runner, and, while seeking for a suitable stick, lost his bearings and became lost; he wandered on and on several miles before coming to a house, and did not get back to his home that night. The family becoming alarmed, aroused the neighborhood the next day, and they started out in search of him, and found him with his friends of the previous night on his way home. So delighted were they to find him that they bore him on their shoulders to his own home and family. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Union Publishing Co. (Philadelphia), 1896, page 187 References
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