George W. Edwards was born October 7, 1842 in Columbus, Ohio. He was the middle child of Lewis H. and Mary Wood(s) Edwards. On January 11, 1845, shortly after George attained his second birthday, his father died at the age of twenty-seven.

By 1850 George was living with his uncle, Stephen S. Edwards and family. He continued living with them until adulthood. It is unknown where his two sisters were living in 1850. They were not listed in the 1850 census with their mother. By this time their mother was married to Bryant Hall and had two more children, Josephine and Edward.

By 1860 George's younger sister, Adelaide, or "Addy" had joined the Stephen Edwards household and his mother, Mary, had married for a third time to Samuel Gladman. His older sister, Mary Francis or "Fanny" married Dr. Thomas Wesley Shastid in August of that same year.

On July 22, 1862, George was enrolled as a private in Company A 95th Regiment Ohio Volunteers for a term of three years. Prisoner of War records show that he was captured and paroled at Richmond, Kentucky on August 30, 1862. He was promoted to Corporal and remained with his company until about the middle of January in1863 when he became ill while in Camp Chase, Ohio. The Company left Camp Chase to go south and George went to the home of his uncle, S. S. Edwards to recuperate. The assistant surgeon was to make out the papers for George's leave of absence at that time, but failed to do so. George remained with his uncle for several months, not realizing that he was actually absent without leave and considered a deserter. After regaining his health he set out down the Mississippi River to rejoin his regiment, stopping in Illinois to visit his widowed mother. While in Illinois he was picked up as a straggler and sent south to Memphis, Tennessee where he returned to duty February 6, 1864. He was promptly tried by general court martial and sentenced to be reduced to ranks and to forfeit all pay and allowances from the United States before January 1, 1864. He complained about receiving no pay and finally demanded an investigation in order to have any question of doubt regarding his desertion removed from his record. George was restored to duty, but received no back pay.

George was wounded and again captured at the Battle of Guntown, (Brice's Crossroads), Mississippi on June 10, 1864. He was confined in Andersonville prison for several months during the fall and winter of 1864-65. He was paroled at N. E. Ferry, North Carolina in February of 1865 and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio where he reported March 10, 1865. He was granted a 30-day furlough and arrived home the next day. He returned to duty April 10, 1865 and was honorably discharged on August 14, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky.

Following his tenure in the United States Army, George spent some time in Shelbyville, Illinois where he married Vienna Sellover on January 11, 1866. They remained in that area until 1868 when they came to California, Missouri. They later moved to what is known as the J. R. Wells farm on the Osage River. From there they moved to the Vannatta farm on the river south of Tuscumbia, then to the Joe Lurton farm and then to the Luetkemeyer farm. Anton Luetkemeyer bought that farm from George in 1880 and the Edwards family then moved to the farm at King's Bluff.

Vienna Sellover Edwards died February 6, 1880. Her husband and three sons, Lewis, Albert and George Jr survived her. Two years later, on January 13, 1882, George married Tennessee Barnhart, who had been a member of the household, probably since the death of Vienna, as she is listed as a housekeeper in the Edwards household in the 1880 census.

George lived out the remainder of his days caring for his family, tending to his farm and his large flower garden at King's Bluff. He died November 10, 1928, and was buried in the family cemetery. His wife, Tennessee, and his children Lewis, Arthur, George Jr., Fannie, Albert, John, Joseph, Maude and Anne survived him.

1928, G. A. R. VETERAN ANSWERS CALL - George W. Edwards, Prominent Citizen and Farmer, Buried Sunday: George Washington Edwards, one of our county's best citizens, a veteran of the Civil War, and a remarkable man, died Saturday morning, November 10th, after an illness of some weeks.

Mr. Edwards was born at Columbus, Ohio, October 7, 1842, being a son of Louis and Mary Edwards. He came of a family of pioneers. His father fought in the Indian wars, and in the battle of Tippecanoe was said to have received a broken arm when struck with a tomahawk by an Indian. At about the age of 19, George W. answered the call and enlisted in Co. A, 95th Ohio Infantry, serving almost four years. He was in Sherman's Army of the Cumberland and was in many hard-fought battles, including the battle of Richmond, Ky., the battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Vicksburg. He was captured by the Confederates at Brice's Cross Roads, Miss., June 9th, 1864 and was in Andersonville prison six months. Macon prison six weeks, and Selma prison six weeks being exchanged the following spring at Wilmington, S. Car. He was in Andersonville prison when the spring burst forth, concerning which circumstance much has been written.

Soon after he returned from the army, he was united in marriage to Miss Vina Selover of Shelbyville, Ill., where the Edwards family had moved from Columbus. He and his wife came to Missouri about 1868 to California, later moving to what is now the J. R. Wells farm on the Osage river. Later they moved to the Vannatta farm, south of Tuscumbia, on the river, then to the Joe Lurton farm, then to Luetkemeyer farm. Anton Luetkemeyer bought out Mr. Edwards in 1880 and then Mr. Edwards bought the farm at King's Bluff where he died.

Mr. Edwards was married twice, his first wife having died Feb. 6, 1880. Three children survive by the first marriage, they being Probate Judge L. S. Edwards, A. H. Edwards and Geo. Edwards, Jr., all of Tuscumbia. In 1882 he married Miss Tennessee Barnhart, who survives him. Children surviving by the second marriage are Mrs. J. W. (Fannie) McDonald of Oklahoma City, Okla., Jas. Albert Edwards, John G. Edwards and Jos. H. Edwards of Tuscumbia; and Mrs. Wallace (Maude) King and Mrs. James (Anna) Gilzean of Kansas City.

Mr. Edwards united with the Methodist church when a young man. He was a great lover of flowers, and his big garden which he cared for himself was the marvel of many people who went to see it. This garden was near the house overlooking the Osage river. He not only took great interest in this and other lines of farming, but always took great pride in his garden which was always one of the best.

The funeral was held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, attended by all the children and a large number of other relatives and friends. Services were conducted by Rev. C. M. Sooter in his impressive and earnest way. The six sons served as pall-bearers, who bore the body to its last resting place in the family cemetery nearby on the home farm.

928, G. A. R. VETERAN ANSWERS CALL - George W. Edwards, Prominent Citizen and Farmer, Buried Sunday: George Washington Edwards, one of our county's best citizens, a veteran of the Civil War, and a remarkable man, died Saturday morning, November 10th, after an illness of some weeks.

Mr. Edwards was born at Columbus, Ohio, October 7, 1842, being a son of Louis and Mary Edwards. He came of a family of pioneers. His father fought in the Indian wars, and in the battle of Tippecanoe was said to have received a broken arm when struck with a tomahawk by an Indian. At about the age of 19, George W. answered the call and enlisted in Co. A, 95th Ohio Infantry, serving almost four years. He was in Sherman's Army of the Cumberland and was in many hard-fought battles, including the battle of Richmond, Ky., the battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Vicksburg. He was captured by the Confederates at Brice's Cross Roads, Miss., June 9th, 1864 and was in Andersonville prison six months. Macon prison six weeks, and Selma prison six weeks being exchanged the following spring at Wilmington, S. Car. He was in Andersonville prison when the spring burst forth, concerning which circumstance much has been written.

Soon after he returned from the army, he was united in marriage to Miss Vina Selover of Shelbyville, Ill., where the Edwards family had moved from Columbus. He and his wife came to Missouri about 1868 to California, later moving to what is now the J. R. Wells farm on the Osage river. Later they moved to the Vannatta farm, south of Tuscumbia, on the river, then to the Joe Lurton farm, then to Luetkemeyer farm. Anton Luetkemeyer bought out Mr. Edwards in 1880 and then Mr. Edwards bought the farm at King's Bluff where he died.

Mr. Edwards was married twice, his first wife having died Feb. 6, 1880. Three children survive by the first marriage, they being Probate Judge L. S. Edwards, A. H. Edwards and Geo. Edwards, Jr., all of Tuscumbia. In 1882 he married Miss Tennessee Barnhart, who survives him. Children surviving by the second marriage are Mrs. J. W. (Fannie) McDonald of Oklahoma City, Okla., Jas. Albert Edwards, John G. Edwards and Jos. H. Edwards of Tuscumbia; and Mrs. Wallace (Maude) King and Mrs. James (Anna) Gilzean of Kansas City.

Mr. Edwards united with the Methodist church when a young man. He was a great lover of flowers, and his big garden which he cared for himself was the marvel of many people who went to see it. This garden was near the house overlooking the Osage river. He not only took great interest in this and other lines of farming, but always took great pride in his garden which was always one of the best.

The funeral was held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, attended by all the children and a large number of other relatives and friends. Services were conducted by Rev. C. M. Sooter in his impressive and earnest way. The six sons served as pall-bearers, who bore the body to its last resting place in the family cemetery nearby on the home farm.