California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914


JAMES EDWARDS. � Much honor is due to the railroad man who has 
braved the dangers incident to railroading to bring the thousands of passengers 
dependent upon him safely to their destinations, but still more deference 
must be paid to the engineer or conductor, whose duty takes him to the 
front in the starting of new roads, whether it be on the plains or mountains. 
Then the completion of the road is not the open sesame to the running of the 
trains, for many years often elapse before they move regularly, the rough 
country often causing dangerous slides, which retard and hold up traffic. It 
takes an engineer of years of experience and careful training for the responsible 
and difficult undertaking, and ,such a man we find in James Edwards, who 
holds a responsible position with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Corn- 
pany. He is engaged in running a train out of Willits on the newly con- 
tructed road to Dos Rios. 

Coming from a fine old southern family, Mr. Edwards' birth occurred in 
Orleans, Fla. His father. J. W. Edwards, served as a captain in the southern 
army during the Civil war, and had three sons who were killed while in active 
service in the Confederate army. The captain survived the war and became a 
farmer. James Edwards attended the public schools and began railroading 
in youth. Working in different departments on various lines, he soon mas- 
tered railroading in all its details, and twelve years ago came to California to 
enter the employ of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company as a con- 
ductor. His retention in that company indicates how faithful he is to his trust 
and how well he fulfills his every duty. 

Mrs. Edwards was before her marriage, Mary Marsh, of New Orleans, 
and to her and her husband has been born one child. Rosemarie. the delight 
and joy of their life. The charming personality of Mr. Edwards, and his 
sunny, optimistic disposition have won him hosts of friends, his ready 
smile easily winning the confidence of the public. Gifted by nature with those 
qualities that make him at once well received, he is a leader in his line of work.