- REV. DANIEL WOOD EDWARDS, of Beloit, Wis., was born in Lebanon,
York Co. Me., Oct.
- 11, 1825. His parents were James S. and Caroline M. (WOOD)
EDWARDS, the former born Oct. 24, 1800. When our subject was
but three months old his mother was called from this life and
he went to live with his grandmother Wood, in whose family he
remained until attaining his majority. His primary education
was received in the schools of his native town, and in 1846 he
emigrated to Rome, Ashabula Co., Ohio, and attended the Geauga
Seminary, where he was a schoolmate of Gen. Garfield. In 1848
he first came to Wisconsin and traveled extensively over the
State as an itinerant preacher. He did not work for pay, as he
bore his own expenses, but his labors were for his Master. He
was instrumental in organizing several churches through the State,
and his work was productive of much good. In 1851 he went to
Iowa and preached for nearly two years, and was present at the
organizing of the Free-Will Baptist yearly meeting of Iowa. In
1853 he was ordained as a minister of the Free-Will Baptist Church,
after which he was engaged in pastoral work at various places.
In 1858 he located at Durand, Ill., where he opened and carried
on a jewelry store until 1860, when he became a resident of Beloit.
That same year he was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary GILMAN,
widow of Isaac H. GILMAN and a daughter of David and Irena McNEIL.
Her parents were natives of Vermont, and in 1844 emigrated to
Walworth County, Wis., where they were among the early settlers.
They were devoted Christian people and belonged to the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Mr. McNEIL died in Walworth County in 1854,
after which his wife came to Beloit, where her death occurred
in September, 1888, at the age of eighty-nine years. Mrs. EDWARDS
by her former marriage had seven children, three of whom are
living - Samuel F., who is engaged in the livery business at
Sedalia, Mo.; George A., of Beloit, and Isaac H.
- For the past few years Mr. EDWARDS has been engaged in the
manufacturing of Edwards'
- Alternative and Tonic Bitters, which he patented in 1882,
and which has become well known through the Northwest, also the
Balm of Life. For the past forty years he has been identified
with the history of Wisconsin, and has been an eye-witness to
the many great changes which have transformed it from a wild
and unsettled region into one of great fertility. He has borne
his part in the great work of development and progress, and takes
an active interest in the welfare of the community.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 460-461.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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