When John Edwards second wife, Mary Francis died, he realized he needed help with his family and finally hired a Irish-Catholic housekeeper, Mary Wallace, dau. of Thomas and Ann B. (Conklin) Wallace. ( Mary Wallace was first cousin to Lydia Belle Clark, who was married to Henry Theodore Edwards, son of John Joseph Edwards.)

Mrs. Mary Edwards, 64, wife of Joe John Edwards, died at her home, Pleasant Valley Avenue, at 11:30 p.m. Saturday after a week's illness of pneumonia. She was born at Otter Creek (Jackson Co. IA) 12 Nov 1862, and besides her husband is survived by three children: Mrs. Martha Wendell, Mrs. Anna Spacek, both of Cedar Rapids; Richard W., of Chadron, Neb., and five step-children: Louisa Hopkins, Omaha; T. (Henry Theodore) Edwards, Puyallup, Wash., Mrs. M.V. Miner, Hermosa, S.D.; John B. Edwards, Millsville, Wis.; Harmon Edwards, Dubuque, and four grandchildren. She also leaves a sister, Mrs. Julia Brunson, Zion, Ill., and five brothers, David and Dennis Wallace, both of Delwood, Wis., James and Richard Wallace, both of Debuque, and J.C. Wallace of Zion. Ill.
Funeral services will be held in the home at 10 a.m., Wednesday conducted by the Rev. Ira E. Edwards. Burial will be at Oak Hill cemetery. - Cedar Rapids Gazettee and Republican Newspaper - 01 Aug. 1927


Certificate of Death, State of Iowa, #057-3288, Registered No. # 375
Place of Death: Linn Co. IA, Township: Rapids, City: Cedar Rapids, No. Pleasant Valley Avenue, West, Full Name: Mrs. Mary Edwards, Resident: Pleasant Valley Avenue, West. Length of residence in city or town where death occurred: 4 yrs, 21 mos, Personal and Statistical Particulars: sex, female, white, married, Husband's Name: Joe John Edwards, date of birth: 12 Nov. 1862, Age 64 yrs, 08 mos, occupation of Deceased: housewife, Birthplace: Otter Creek (Jackson Co. ) IA, Name of Father: Tom Wallace, birthplace of father: Clare, Ireland, Maiden Name of Mother: Ann Conklin, birthplace of mother: OH., Informant: Martha Wendell, Pleasant Valley Ave. West, Filed: 8-1-1927
Medical Certification of Death: Date of Death: 30 July 19927, Attended by Charles A. Day, M.D., from 07-26-1927 to 07-30-1927, last saw her alive on 30 July 1927, occurred at 11:30 p.m., cause of death: Lobar Pneumonia, 7 days, contributory: Myocarditis, no operation or autopsy performed, Signed by Charles A Day, M.D. 08-01-1927, Cedar Rapids, IA, Burial: Oak Hill Cem, 03 Aug. 1927, Under: Lesinger Polansky Mortuary, Cedar Rapids, IA