Thomas J. Edwards
Thomas J. Edwards, clerk of the courts of Allen County, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, is one of the county's most popular official. He was born at Gomer, Allen County, Ohio, on the 20th day of June, 1871, of Welsh parentage and is a son of Isaac D. and Elizabeth E. Edwards, who were residents of this county for many years. Our subject's father, who was an extensive merchant at Gomer, died in 1892, at Chattanooga, Tennessee; his widow still survives, as do also three of their family of six children.
At the age of 12 years, Thomas J. Edwards began earning his own way. During school vacations he would drive a mule in the coal mines, receiving for his work very liberal pay for one who would take up the work at that age. At the age of 14 years Mr. Edwards attended Grant University at Chattanooga, Tennessee, for two terms. Soon after this, his father embarked in business as a merchant, conducting a large store at Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a full line of stoves and hardware, and also a large tinning and cornice establishment. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Thomas learned the tinners trade and completed his trade under his father. He was of pleasant address and was gifted with excellent business ideas; these facts coming to the attention of the Southern Construction Company, he was engaged for four years as a commercial traveler. After severing his relation with this company, he came back to Lima, Ohio, and visited relatives and friends at Gomer, returning to Lima on the 2nd day of January, 1894. He at once secured a position as a clerk in a shoe store, afterwards going with the firm of Hoover Brothers. Two years later he took up his old position as a commercial traveler and thus continued to be engaged until 1902. In this year at the urgent requests of his many friends, he became a candidate for the office of county clerk. Although there never before had been a contest for the nomination of the Republican ticket for a county office, a lively contest was now precipitated, as two of the most prominent men of Allen County aspired for the nomination; Mr. Edwards received the nomination of the third ballot, After the nomination, he went out and campaigned the county, man to man and was elected clerk of the courts, he being the first Republican ever elected to the office in Allen County. His friends stood by him most loyally in this election and he did not forget them when he went into office. As the end of his term of three years approached, his friends again secured for him the Republican nomination and on November 7, 1905, he was reelected clerk of the courts with a majority of 1,559 votes, the largest majority ever given any county candidate, with the exception of one of two. It was a remarkable election; the State losing its Republican Governor, who was running for a second term, and the Democratic candidate for that office carrying Allen County by 1,490 votes; the city of Lima, normally Republican by 800 votes, being carried by the Democrats, who elected all of their candidates save one councilman. Mr. Edwards has proven himself to be a very active and progressive citizen. It was largely due to his efforts that Walter B. Richie was selected as a member of the commission to locate the site of the new State Hospital for the Insane. Owing to the over-crowded condition of the insane hospitals of the State, the General Assembly of 1903 empowered the Governor to appoint a non-partisan commission of five members to locate a site for a hospital for the insane. A public meeting of the citizens of Lima was called and the name of Walter B. Richie was selected and the same was presented to Governor Myron T. Herrick for his consideration. Mr. Richie was appointed a member of this commission on June 9, 1904. After visiting sites in different parts of the State, the commission's final decision was Allen County and the report was accepted by the Governor. The Governor will recommend to the next General Assembly that an appropriation be made to erect a State Hospital for the Insane, to be built in Allen County.
Mr. Edwards was united in marriage with Caroline M. Hoover, who is a daughter of John Hoover, a well-known citizen of Lima. They have one son, Louis B. Mrs. Edwards is a devoted member of the Catholic Church, while Mr. Edwards was reared a Congregationalist. Mr. Edwards' fraternal connections include the Elks, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Kinghts of Pythias, Maccabees and Eagles. He is 3rd vice-president of the National Travelers' Protective Association of America and in 1906 he was elected president of the Clerks' Association of the State of Ohio and was further honored by being elected president of the organization of the county officials of the State of Ohio. His residence is No. 452 North West street, Lima. As county clerk, Mr. Edwards has met with public approval, giving close and careful attention to the duties of the office, which are of no light character, four assistants being required. He possesses genial qualities, which have made him a successful business man and which are very desirable in a public official.