Edward William (Edwin) Kearsley was born on 31 July 1862 to Richard Lambert Kearsley, Jr. and Frances Ann Mears in Faversham, Kent, England. Edward's birth place was a historical site in England. His father once took him into the city and showed him around and told him the history of the place; which is something that was very memorable to Edward.

Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to the home of Richard and Frances Kearsley and taught them. They soon after joined the church. After many years, they decided to emigrate to the United States to the state of Utah. On 3 May 1871, a great tragedy struck during the time they were making plans and preparations to sail to the U.S. Edward's father Richard was killed in an explosion of the steam boiler, where he worked. The family was devastated.

After some time, Edward's mother decided to continue their plans to emigrate to Utah. It took two years after the death of Edward's father for the family to be ready to travel across the ocean and land to Utah. They left in 1873.

Edward grew to manhood in the United States. On a visit to his sister Fanny's home, he met Annie Waterfall. She was also an immigrant to Utah from England. After a courtship of eight years, they were married on 1 January 1893 in Salt Lake, Utah.

Edward decided to settle in Victor, Idaho about November of 1905. His brother Richard was already living in Victor, Idaho. Edward was a carpenter by trade and kept very busy with his occupation. He also farmed his land in Victor, Idaho.

Edward passed away on 18 June 1933 in the LDS Hosptial in Idaho Falls, Idaho from a ruptured appendix, at the age of 71. He was buried in Victor, Idaho Cemetery.

Edward and Annie had the following children:

1. Beaulah Annie Kearsley, born 1 Feb. 1895
2. Edward John Kearsley, born 26 Nov. 1896
3. Benjamin Richard Kearsley, born 24 May 1898
4. Susannah Frances Kearsley, born 22 Sept. 1900
5. Violet Mary Kearsley, born 17 June 1902
6. Hyrum Lambert Kearsley, born 1 March 1904
7. Edith Flora Kearsley, born 12 April 1906
8. Alice Louise Kearsley, born 11 Dec. 1907
9. Arthur Wallace Kearsley, born 6 Nov. 1911