Howard W. Edwards
Howard W. Edwards, treasurer of the Edwards Manufacturing Company which is one of the rapidly growing enterprises of Cincinnati, was born in this city, March 22, 1879. He is a son of Walter and Ellen (Bryan) Edwards, the former of whom was born in London, England, the latter being also of English birth. Mr. Edwards, Sr., emigrated to America during the Civil war and located at Cincinnati. He was a natural mechanic and became superintendent of the old Greenwood Foundry, which for a number of years was the largest foundry west of the Alleghany mountains. He died in 1888, at the age of forty-seven, when the subject of this review was nine years old. Mrs. Edwards was a woman of rare courage and fidelity. Left with a family of ten children, she nobly undertook the responsibility of rearing them to maturity and her efforts met with deserved success. The names of the children are: Hattie, who is now deceased; Walter A.; Christopher B.; Mary, who married Louis R. Hildreth, of Evanston; George R.; Nellie, who married Stewart Welch, of Columbus, Ohio; Edward W.; Emma, now the wife of Charles R. Clark, of Champaign, Illinois; Matilda; and Howard W.
Mr. Edwards, of this review, received the advantage of a preliminary education in the public schools. As a boy, he entered the employ of Scott & Company, manufacturers of sheet metal, and became thoroughly acquainted with the business. In 1901, he associated with others in the organization of the Edwards Manufacturing Company and purchased the business of Scott & Company. The new organization started at No. 1119 Sycamore street and during the four years following added three buildings to their plant, at Nos. 1117, 1121 and 1223 Sycamore street, each of which was four stories in height. The business increased at such a rate that it outgrew the accommodations and, in 1905, the company purchased the property which had been occupied by the Anchor White Lead Works, and erected a commodious plant on strictly modern lines, which is supplied with all the machinery and conveniences essential in meeting competition of the twentieth century. The company manufactures sheet metal building material and employs about two hundred and fifty persons, its traveling salesmen visiting every state in the Union. About one-fifth of the product is exported and the demand from foreign countries is steadily increasing. The company ranks high in business circles on account of its prompt and effective methods, and the ability and integrity of its officers. It is capitalized at thirty thousand dollars and carries a surplus of five hundred thousand dollars. The officers are: Edward W. Edwards, president; George R. Edwards, vice president; G. D. Myers, secretary; Howard W. Edwards, treasurer; and Walter A. Edwards, superintendent.
In 1904, Mr. Edwards was married to Miss Adda Jones, a daughter of David J. Jones, of Cincinnati, and they have one child, Adelaide Whitaker. Mrs. Edwards is a member of the Sixth Presbyterian church while Mr. Edwards is identified with the Walnut Hills Christian church. Socially, he is connected with Queen City Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He ranks as a thoroughly reliable and progressive business man who possesses the attributes that distinguish the good citizen. Of an optimistic temperament, he is public-spirited and patriotic, and has through life aimed to promote the moral as well as the material welfare of those with whom he is associated. He is a man of clear judgement and his advice is often sought by those desirous of proceeding along safe and approved lines. When his advice is followed it is seldom indeed that the individual finds himself a loser.
From Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III, by Rev. Charles Frederic Goss, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912