donated by Laura Keaton Morrison

Henry Edwards (1809-1885)
Henry was born 07 Mar 1809 in Columbia, Adair County, KY. He is the 4th of 11 children of Henry Edwards (~1765 – 1835) and Mary "Polly" Cross Edwards (~1775 – ~1840). Henry came to Illinois before 1825 and married Sarah Anderson on 13 March 1834 in Morgan County. The newlyweds moved to Macoupin County before 1835. The couple had 10 children, all born in Macoupin County. They lived in Macoupin County for nearly 30 years before moving to Sangamon County. In 1874-75 the elderly couple headed west with a large Edwards family wagon caravan to homestead in Kansas. Henry died 08 March 1885 in Narka, Republic County, Kansas. There is no death certificate or obituary, only a Death Notice from Belleville Telescope. He is buried Maple Grove Cemetery, Republic County, KS with many members of his family. FindAGrave #54772920



Sarah Anderson Edwards (1815-1900)
According to her obituary, Sarah Anderson Edwards (1815-1900) was born in Shelby County, Kentucky 22 April 1815 and died 03 February 1900. I believe that she was the daughter of William Dickson Anderson (b. 1792 Virginia, d. 20 Sep 1847 in Carlinville, Macoupin, IL) and Elizabeth Maddox Hancock Anderson (b 1794 Virginia, d. 1844 in Carlinville, Macoupin, IL). I am fairly certain she is the sister of Armajor Anderson (b Dec 1831 in Carlinville, Macoupin County, IL ). Amajor lived with Henry Edwards and Sarah Anderson Edwards in 1850 US Federal Census (below). Amajor married Elizabeth J Kessinger (1833-?) 13 Feb 1851 (Free Illinois State Archives databases marriages 1851-02-13 3/ 1613 MACOUPIN) and vanish.

Sarah has no death certificate but does have 2 obituaries. Sarah is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Republic County, KS also. No record confirms this but local knowledge says she is buried in the same grave with her husband of 50 years. This grave has a monument with only his name. FindAGrave #54772920

Children:

James J EDWARDS  (1829 –?)    
Rebecca EDWARDS (1831 – 1905)
Minda Jane EDWARDS (1837 – ?)    
Melissa Jane EDWARDS (1838 – 1909)   
Hester A EDWARDS (1841 – 1923)
Thomas Henry Edwards (1844-1913)
Samuel M EDWARDS (1847 – 1938)
Sarah A EDWARDS (1850 – 1860)
George Washington EDWARDS (1852 – 1922)
William EDWARDS (1854 – ?)

Notes

1) Henry Edwards’ parents, Henry Edwards (1765-1835) and Mary Cross Edwards (1775-1840), are believed to be buried along the county lines either in
Orleans on the Drury Farm, Morgan Co. or McDevitt Cemetery, Maxwell, Sangamon County.

2) 1850 United States Federal Census

Name	Sarah Edwards
Age	35
Birth Year	abt 1815
Birthplace	Kentucky
Home in 1850	Macoupin County IL
Gender	Female
Family Number	4
Household members
Name	Age
Henry Edwards	41
Sarah Edwards	35
Jas J Edwards	21
Rebecca Edwards	19
M J Edwards	13
Hester A Edwards	8
Thos H Edwards	6
Saml M Edward	3
Sarah A Edwards	0
Armajor Anderson	21

*** Two dates are on the Illinois records for the marriage of Henry Edwards and Sarah Anderson. I am confident the license was obtained on 13 March 1834 is correct: http://www.ilsos.gov/isavital/marriageSearch.do
EDWARDS, HENRY     ANDERSON SARAH    1834-03-13 00A  0027 00001062 MORGAN

In addition, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary March 16, 1884 in Kansas.
 
However, a second date is published on Ancestry and available through Archives.  Source Information:
Dodd, Jordan. Illinois Marriages to 1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997.
Original data: Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Illinois.
 
I’ve written to the Morgan County Clerk to check this alternate date. It would be convenient for the birth dates of the children, but I think it is incorrect. I do question James J Edwards’ and Rebecca Edwards’ relationship to Henry and Sarah. They may be a nephew and a niece.