William "Bill" Edwards
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - November 1, 1935
FOUNDER OF EAGLE TOWNSITE PASSES AWAY THIS WEEK. Wm.Edwards Dies In Glenwood Hospital Wednesday--Homesteaded Land on Which Eagle Stands in the Early 80's--Will be Buried in Iowa.
William EDWARDS died at the Hopkins hospital in Glenwood Springs, Wednesday afternoon, October 30, after only a short illness.
"Bill" EDWARDS was, probably more intimate with the early history and upbuilding of Eagle and the Eagle river valley than many people now living. Born near Keokuk, Iowa, June 5, 1857, of a prominent family of that state, he took Horace GREELEY's advice when a very young man and came west. He located in Park county, Colorado, in the late seventies and was there associated with John LOVE, Webb FROST, George WILKINSON, and that coterie of pioneers who all came to Eagle county at about the same time from 1880 to 1882, and he came here at about the same time those men did.
He took up as a homestead the land on which is now located the town of Eagle, and later platted the first townsite, which was called Castle, later selling to Clark B. WHEELER. For more than forty years he lived on the ranch three miles above Eagle, now owned by Clyde F. LLOYD, and which will always be known as the "Edwards place." Within recent years he acquired the former SCHRACK ranch on Brush creek, now leased and farmed by Fred DICE. He retired from active farm life some twenty-odd years ago, and made his home in town.
While a man of many eccentricities he was withal of a very likable personality, and his friends among older people of the valley were many. He was the personification of honor, his word being better than a bond, and he abhored [sic.] dishonesty above all things. "Bill" EDWARDS was all man, of the type that was necessary to carve from this former wild country a civilized community and help make it a paradise in which to live.
In a will left by Mr. EDWARDS he expressed the desire that when he died the body be taken back to Keokuk, Iowa, and there laid to rest beside the body of his father. No near relatives survive him, but there are numerous nieces and nephews now living in the vicinity of Bantam and Cincinnatti, Ohio, to whom his estate is bequeathed.
For a number of years the deceased has been in frail health, though not bed ridden. Some four years ago he went to Glenwood Springs and entered the sanitarium of Dr. Hopkins, where he spent his failing years in comfort and well cared for. He was not taken seriously ill until a few days prior to his death, but the end approached rapidly when the angel of death beckoned.
Mr. Hume S. WHITE at the deceased's request, is in charge of the burial arrangements, but had not decided when questioned, Thursday morning, what arrangements will be made. A short funeral service will probably be held in Glenwood before Mr. WHITE starts back east with the body sometime next week.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5 - November 6, 1935
