San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WILLIAM M. EDWARDS
An industrious, straightforward
businessman, who has been rewarded with enviable success, is William M.
Edwards, for nearly four decades a Californian by adoption, and second to none
in his loyalty to the Golden State. He
was born in Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa, on October 8, 1870. While still a small boy, his parents removed
to Des Moines and there he was reared and educated in the public schools until
the family removed to California in 1886, when our subject attended the
Washington grammar school in Stockton.
After leaving school he was employed in the carriage factory of M. P.
Henderson & Son and learned the trade of trimmer and upholsterer and worked
for them for four years; then he went to San Francisco and followed his trade
for one year. In 1896 he returned to
Stockton and was employed as a mechanic by W. O. Bigelow, who supplied carriage
trimmings, and later he was the foreman for the same company, remaining with
them for nine years. In February, 1914,
he opened a small shop at 129 East Miner Avenue; later a larger and more
commodious store was built for him, and he started to repair automobile tops,
but very soon he branched out into making automobile tops, tailored seat covers,
cushions, curtains, carpets, etc. His
business has increased seven-fold within the last five years, and on account of
his years of experience in his line he draws his customers from Calaveras and
Contra Costa counties, as well as from San Joaquin County. All the workmen he employs are qualified to
do first class work and he enjoys an ever increasing patronage.
The marriage of Mr. Edwards united
him with Miss Isabelle Lemue, a native of Nevada
County, and they are the parents of seven children. Mrs. Edwards is now deceased. Mr. Edwards has never failed to do his part
as a public-spirited citizen and many are the projects that he has boosted that
have helped to make San Joaquin County one of the best known localities in
California.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1587. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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