MARION FALCON, October 29, 1930
DEATH CLAIMS F.D. EDWARDS
BLOOD POISONING FATAL TO FORMER MARION COUNTY BOY, HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
BURIAL TO BE AT RILEY
Professor Francis Dent Edwards, 30 years old, died Sunday morning about 4 o'clock at Goreville, Illinois, where he was Principal of the Goreville High School. Death was due to blood poisoning which developed from a slight scratch on his nose and followed only a brief illness, the end coming quickly. The first knowledge relatives here had of his illness came in a message Sunday morning telling of his critical condition. The message telling of his death came shortly afterward. On receipt of the news of his illness Professor Edwards' brother, Homer Edwards, of Riley prepared to go to him and left Sunday on the 5:00 o'clock train. The young man was a son of Tom and Sallie Floyd Edwards, both deceased, being the youngest of 10 children, 8 of whom now survive. His mother died when he was quite a youngster and his father has been dead about 15 years. When he lived here he made his home with his brothers, Jack and Noel and his sister, Miss Bessie Edwards. (newspaper torn)

For the past several years he had attended the University of Illinois in the summer and graduated there at the conclusion of the summer session this year. After leaving the Jessetown school, Prof. Edwards was an instructor in the Hardinsburg (Ky) High School one year. Last year he was at Goreville and had started his second year in charge of the school there in September. He was a brilliant young man with a future full of promise for a successful career in chosen profession. Not only was he a scholar and a thinker but he was a talented musician, being an accomplished pianist and singer. He always rendered his assistance in church services and other public gatherings in the community where he engaged. He had many friends through-out the county who join his relatives sorrow at his untimely passing. Surviving are three brothers and 5 sisters as follows; Jack Wesley, Noel and Homer Edwards, all of Riley; Mrs. Willie Whitehouse and Miss Bessie Edwards, both of Riley, Mrs. William Roberts, of Lebanon Junction, Mrs. Ernest Brewer, of Nelsonville and Mrs. Leslie Coyle, of East Texas. Another brother, Louis, died about 20 years ago at the age of 17. After funeral services held at Goreville, Monday, Prof. Edwards' remains were brought by motor, Tuesday, to the Edwards' home at Riley. Services are to be held at the Methodist Church there Wednesday morning at 10:00 o'clock and burial will be in the Edwards Family Cemetery.