MR. WILLIAM J. EDWARDS. EMERALD, SLATINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.
William J. Edwards, the third son of John and Mary Edwards, was born February 24th, 1843. His biography is the same as that of his brother Hugh, until 1863, at which time Lee invaded Pennsylvania, and the subject was one of the first patriots to respond to the call in the company which was raised at Slatington. He had enlisted for three months but Lee’s defeat at Gettysburg caused the militia to be disbanded. In the middle of the summer of 1864, he enlisted again in Company I, 209th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was mustered out with his regiment at the close of the war, having participated in every engagement until in the battle of Fort Steadman, which was the last battle of his division.After the war he returned to his home at Emerald, near Slatington, where he married Mary Reinsmith, a daughter of Daniel Schleicher. Unto them were born six children, namely: Elizabeth, married to Allen Rex, of Washington township; William, born August 6th, 1874, lives at Slatedale; Hugh W., born November 25th, 1875; Annie, Rufena died in infancy; and John, born in December, 1879, lives at Slatedale.
William J. Edwards, the father of these children, died of pneumonia in September, 1880, aged 43 years. He is buried at Slatedale.