Elizabeth's maiden name was provided courtesy of Find A Grave member Jon Egge. Thank you

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Mrs. L. H. Edwards, Sister of ‘Tama Jim’ Wilson, Dead at 83
Former Traer Woman, Member of Prominent Pioneer Family

Mrs. L. H. Edwards, well known in Traer, died at her home in Cedar Heights near Waterloo, Friday evening of carcinoma after a prolonged illness. She had been bedfast six weeks. She was born in Norwich, Connecticut, November 6, 1854 and came to north Tama when a baby 2 years old. She was one of the fourteen children of Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson, who settled near the present site of Traer in 1856, when most of the county was prairie. Of the fourteen children only one is left— Mrs. Sarah McWhirter, of Vivian, South Dakota.

Mrs. Edwards was married here on August 16, 1875, immediately after her graduation with the Bachelor of Science degree from one of Iowa’s leading colleges. Mr. Edwards was one of the early day merchants of Traer. He conducted a dry goods store here several years after marriage, but the couple moved to Waterloo in 1883 and spent their succeeding years there. Mr. Edwards served several years as postmaster in Waterloo.

The large family of Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson were citizens of unusual intelligence and ability along various lines. One of them, Tama Jim, gained national reputation when he served for sixteen years as secretary of agriculture under three presidents. Mrs. Edwards, his sister displayed much literary ability. She was one of the early presidents of the Ladies Literary Society, now Waterloo Woman’s club; a member of the Poetry Society of Iowa, of the Iowa Authors club and of the Community Presbyterian Church in Cedar Heights, which she helped establish. She was a member of the Iowa Federation of Women’s clubs. She contributed to several anthologies of poetry and was the author of several poems which her family hopes to publish in book form.

In 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards conceived the idea of obtaining a tract of land, which included the bluffs at what was known as Rownd's park, for a home. This project later developed into what became Cedar Heights, an exclusive residential district. Surviving are two daughters, Miss Rowena A. Edwards and Mrs. Genevieve Edwards Feddersen, both of Cedar Heights, and five grandchildren. The husband and two sons, Albert Wilson Edwards and James McCosh Edwards, preceded her in death.

Funeral services were at home Sunday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. Bruce J. Griffin pastor of the first Presbyterian church in Cedar Falls. The body was brought to Traer, where a short service was held at Buckingham cemetery, Burial was beside the husband, who died many years ago.

Traer Star Clipper, Friday, October 21st, 1938 page 13

Contributor: George (48419540)