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Son of Henry Edwards (1809-1885) and Sarah Anderson (1815-1900), grandson of Henry Edwards (~1760-1835) and Mary Cross (1780~1840).
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Thomas was born in Township 11, Macoupin County, Illinois on 26 January 1844, a son of the Henry Edwards (1809-1885) and Sarah Anderson Edwards (1815-1900). Thomas died at his home north of Moran, Allen County, Kansas on 04 November 1913. He was 69 years old.
Thomas Henry Edwards lived in Macoupin County, IL and was a farmer, until his enlistment on 02 August 1862 in Carlinville, IL as Private in Company K, Illinois 122nd Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. He served for three years until the close of the war; was promoted to non-commissioned 5 Corporal on 17 May 1863 by order of Lt. Col. Drish in Mobile Alabama; was honorably discharged and mustered-out on 15 July 1865 in Mobile, AL. He returned to Illinois.
Thomas married Laura Ann Kessler (1854-1945) of Sangamon County, IL on 25 January 1872. The couple lived in Moultrie County for 4 years and moved to Republic County, Kansas in 1876. Thomas and Laura lived there for the next 30 years; moved to Missouri from 1906-1910; then, returned to Kansas and lived in Moran until his 1913 death.
Children
George William EDWARDS (1876 – 1958)*
Rosepha H EDWARDS (1878 – 1895)
Rufus E EDWARDS (1880 – 1887)
Rayburn Leslie EDWARDS (1884 – 1950)
Orra Bernice EDWARDS (1886 – 1945)
Edna Ruth EDWARDS (1888 – 1982)
Ira Paul EDWARDS (1890 – 1948)
Clara Mae EDWARDS (1894 – 1946)
Thomas was survived by his wife, three sons, three daughters, one sister and two brothers. Four children and his parents preceded him in death. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Masons. Thomas’ funeral was held at the Moran Presbyterian Church. His remains were taken by train for burial with other members of the Edwards family in Maple Grove Cemetery (1 mile north and 1 1/2 miles west of Narka, KS). Narka is in Republic County, where he lived for three decades. Find A Grave Memorial# 54773762
*Records indicate that George William Edwards was born in Sangamon County, IL. However, family folklore says he was born in a covered wagon in Kansas along the trek and that is why the Edwards caravan stopped in northern Kansas. Apparently, the family group was going on to Oklahoma,
The other children of Thomas and Laura were born in Kansas.