(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley 1920)

Eddie. E. Edwards, a retired rancher and merchant, who was formerly active in business at Gibbonsville, Lemhi county, but is now residing in Boise, was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, June 29, 1866, and is a son of David G. and Mary E. (Jewell) Edwards. He is also a nephew of Hon. E. S. Jewell, formerly a prominent citizen of Washington county, Idaho, but now residing in California. The parents of Eddie E. Edwards spent their last years in Idaho, in the vicinity of Cambridge, where the death of both occurred, their remains being interred in the cemetery there. They had improved a homestead near Cambridge and were pioneers of the Salubria valley. David G. Edwards served as a soldier in the Union army for three years with a Wisconsin regiment, thus doing his full part to aid in the preservation of the Union.

Eddie E. Edwards was born and reared at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and when seventeen years of age came to Idaho with an uncle, Albert Jewell, who like the Hon. E. S. Jewell, was a brother of his mother, E. S. Jewell being already at that time a resident of this state. It was in 1884 that E. E. Edwards came to Idaho, where he has now resided tor a period of thirty-six years. He spent the first eight years in Washington county in the vicinity of Cambridge, where he was active in connection with ranching and as a clerk in the stores. He had previously engaged in clerking at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in his youthful days and thus had received some initial business training. In 1892, when still single, he went to Gibbonsville, Lemhi county, where he embarked in merchandising on his own account. There he made his home for a quarter of a century and during that period was connected with commercial pursuits, first conducting a meat market, while several years later he extended the scope of his activities by establishing a large general store, which he conducted successfully for many years, having the only store of the kind at that place. He was very successful in business and amassed a comfortable fortune, being at the time of his retirement from business a few years ago one of the wealthy merchants of Idaho. This was due to his close application, his unremitting energy and his sound judgment in business affairs. While conducting his mercantile business he also became interested in mining and in realty at Gibbonsville and entered the field of banking as vice president of the Citizens National Bank at Salmon, Idaho. For many years before leaving Gibbonsville he was the recognized banker of that place, which never had an organized bank. He made it a rule while in business there to cash checks for practically everyone in the vicinity who was known to be financially sound and he also engaged in loaning money to a large extent, utilizing his private funds in this way. In all business affairs he has displayed keen sagacity and his energy and determination, coupled with sound judgment, have made him one of the prosperous men of the state.

At Salmon, Idaho, Mr. Edwards was married on the 13th of March, 1901, to Miss Anna O'Neill, of Gibbonsville, who is of Scotch descent. They have two daughters: Edena, now eighteen years of age; and Jessie, sixteen years of age. Both are students in the Boise high school. It was to give his children better educational opportunities that Mr. Edwards removed to Boise with his family in 1917 and in 1919 he took up his abode in his present palatial home at No. 1205 North Eleventh street, one of the fine residences in the northern section of the city. It is the old Logan home and when it was built was one of the finest homes of Boise.

In politics Mr. Edwards has long been a republican and while in Lemhi county served as county commissioner for one term. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and both he and his wife are identified with the Daughters of Rebekah. E. E. Edwards has membership with the Sons of Veterans and in all matters of citizenship he is progressive and loyal, cooperating heartily in every plan and measure that tends to promote the welfare of the community and of the state at large.