Salom� Jane Thomas

Unknown Kang was born Unknown, and died Unknown at age Unknown.

Salom� Jane "Sarah" Thomas was born August 5, 1830, in Steinseltz, Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, Alsace, France , and died March 10, 1923, at her home, 355 Doty St., Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI, at age 92. Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI. She is the daughter of Antoine Thomas of France, and Elizabethe Marguerithe Heil of Steinseltz, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France. Leigh Larson note: Adam Shidell and Elizabeth Shidell are the brother and sister of Jacob Scheidel, while Sarah Edwards is a half-sister of Jacob Scheidel. Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) Kang immigrated to the United States from France about 1853.

Unknown Kang and Salom� Jane "Sarah" Thomas were married about 1848, in France.

Unknown Kang  and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) Kang had one child:

1. Freiderick Kang: Born about 1849, in France; Died after 1853, in Unknown.

Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) Kang then married Unknown Kuntz.

Unknown Kuntz was born Unknown, and died the United States, at age Unknown.

Unknown Kuntz and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) Kang were married about 1854, in the United States.

Unknown Kuntz and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) Kuntz had one child:

1. Sarah Kuntz: Born October 1, 1855, in New Jersey; Died February 8, 1929, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 73). Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Married (1) about 1871 in Unknown to Unknown Kuntz: Born Unknown; Died Unknown. Married (2) October 18, 1873, in Fond du Lac Co., WI, to Carl Gustav Jungnik: Born July 1851 in Prussia; Died August 9, 1929, in Appleton, Outagamie Co., WI (age 78). Buried in Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Outagamie Co., WI. Divorced June 1, 1889, in Fond du Lac Co., WI. Married (3) September 8, 1904, in Chicago, Cook Co., IL, to Theodor "Theodore" Reichenbach: Born November 9, 1859, in Rotenfels (A. Rastatt), Baden, Germany; D ied June 15, 1910, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 50). Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) Kuntz then married Edward Richter.

Edward Richter was born January 17, 1829, in Prussia, and died February 16, 1876, in Fond du Lac Co., WI, at age 47. Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI. He is the son of Unknown. Edward was a shoemaker.

Edward Richter and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) Kuntz were married about 1859 in New York.

Edward Richter and Salome Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) (Kuntz) Richter had one child:

1. Caroline Wilhelmine Richter : Born April 7, 1860, in New York City, New York Co., NY ; Died July 20, 1954, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 94 years, 8 months, 6 days). Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Married January 1, 1880, in Lamartine Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI, to John William Mensch: Born March 11, 1855, in the Town of Lamertine, Fond du Lac Co., WI; Died March 7, 1922, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 66). Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

After Edward Richter died, Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) (Kuntz) Richter married William David Edwards.

William David Edwards was born October 31, 1823, in Hafodrynys, Monmouthshire, Wales, and died February 17, 1901, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI, at age 77. Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI. He is the son of David J. Edwards of Gellygaer, Glamorganshire, Wales, and Ann Lawrence of Trevethin Parish (Pontypool) Monmouthshire , Wales.

Jane Jones was born about 1825 in Wales, and died 1848 in Ohio, at about age 23. She is the daughter of Unknown of Wales.

William David Edwards and Jane Jones were married about 1847 in Wales.

William David Edwards and Jane (Jones) Edwards had two children:

1. Anna Marie Edwards: Born about 1847 in Wales; Died Unknown.
2. Mary Jane Edwards: Born about 1848 in Ohio; Died after 1913 in Unknown.

William David Edwards then married Lydia Ann Wheaton.

Lydia Ann Whitton was born March 25, 1829, in New York, and died January 15, 1875, in Fond du Lac, WI, at age 46. Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI. She is the daughter of Unknown.

Within 28 days, William lost his wife Lydia and three of his sons, William Jr., Franklin and Daniel to Typhoid Fever. It is hard to imagine the sadness in this family during this time. All are buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI. William Sr. joined them 26 years later.

William David Edwards and Lydia Ann Wheaton/Whitton were married May 12, 1849, in Wayne Co., OH.

William David Edwards and Lydia Ann (Wheaton/Whitton) Edwards had fourteen children:

1. Mary Jane Edwards: Born about 1850, Akron, Mossilon Co., OH ; Died after 1870 in Unknown.
2. Eliza Rachel Edwards: Born July 19, 1852, Akron, Mossilon Co., OH; Died after 1920 in Wisconsin. Married December 2, 1895, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI. to Charles H. "Carl" Etter: Born February, 1856, in Chambersburg, Franklin, PA; Died after 1930 in Unknown. His father is Lewis Etter, and mother is Charlotte Diehl.
3. Sarah Edwards: Born about 1853 in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI; Died about 1853 in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age Infant).
4. Sarah Almira Edwards: Born November 10, 1854, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI; Died March 10, 1913, in Oakfield, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 56). Married June 3, 1876, in Fond du Lac Co., WI, to Augustus Ludwig Christoph "August" Hansen : Born August 7, 1850, in Sternberg, Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Germany; Died August 13, 1930, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 80). They raised a family of 12 children in Oakfield Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI.
5. Daniel Albert Edwards: Born April 22, 1856, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died January 25, 1875, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 18).
6. William Henry Edwards: Born December 9, 1857, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died December 24, 1874, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 17). Never married.
7. George Irving Edwards: Born July 24, 1859, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died February 15, 1934, in the Town of Byron, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 74). Married March 12, 1885, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI, to Adelia Ellen "Della" Worthing: Born July 16, 1858, in Oakfield, Fond du Lac Co., WI; Died 1947 in Oakfield, Fond du Lac Co., WI (about age 89).
8. Miriam Edwards: Born April 10, 1862, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died before 1870 in Fond du Lac Co., WI. Never married.
9. Sherman William Edwards, MD: Born October 6, 1864, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died May 2, 1915, in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., WI (age 50). Married December 29, 1898, in Oakfield, Fond du Lac Co., WI, to Ruby Alice Armitage: Born September 24, 1875, in Neosho, Dodge Co., WI; Died May 14, 1937, in Oakfield, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 61).
10. Myron S. Edwards: Born April 10, 1864, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died June 19, 1928, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 64).
11. Rial David "Royal" Edwards: Born December 17, 1866, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died April 16, 1923, in Rochester, Olmstead Co., MN (age 56). Buried in Hillside Cemetery, Fessenden, Wells Co., ND. Married about 1914 in North Dakota to Fern Nelson: Born December 30, 1891, in Washington; Died May 30, 1931, in Wells Co., ND (age 39). Buried in Hillside Cemetery, Fessenden, Wells Co., ND.
12. Franklin "Frankie" Edwards: Born Born March 7, 1868, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died January 16, 1875, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI (age 6).
13. Cora E. Edwards: Born June 2, 1870, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died after 1930 in Unknown. In 1900, 1905, 1910, 1920 and 1930, Cora was an unmarried Inmate at the Milwaukee Hospital for the Insane, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee Co., WI. Never married.
14. Hattie Georgiana Edwards: Born May 8, 1873, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI ; Died 1919 in Fond du Lac Co., WI (about age 46). Buried in Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Married February 11, 1892, in Fond du Lac Co., WI, to Andrew William Kintzler: Born June 26, 1868, in Fond du Lac Co., WI; Died July 30, 1947, in Muskegon, Muskegon Co., MI (age 79). Buried in Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

After Lydia Ann (Wheaton/Whitton) Edwards died, William David Edwards married Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) (Kuntz) Richter.

William David Edwards and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) (Kuntz) Richter were married July 18, 1876, in Fond du Lac Co., WI.

William David Edwards and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) (Kuntz) (Richter) Edwards had no children.

TIMELINE

Edward Richter was born January 17, 1829, in Prussia, Germany.

William David Edwards was born October 31, 1823, in South, Monmouthshire, Wales.

  Salom� Jane "Sarah" Thomas was born August 5, 1830, in Steinseltz, Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, Alsace, France .

Catherine Scheidel was born October 18, 1838, in the Village of Croettwiller, Crœttwiller, Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, France.

Unknown Kang and Salom� Jane "Sarah" Thomas were married about 1848, in France.

The 1850 U. S. Census taken on August 27, 1850, shows Wm. Edwards (age 27) born in Wales is a Collier and is living in Chippewa Twp., Wayne Co., OH. Living with him is Lydia Edwards (age 22) born in New York. Also living there are: Anna Edwards (age 3) born in Wales; Jane Whidon (age 3) born in Ohio; Hugh McGracy (age 25) born in Ireland, a Collier; Cath. McGracy (age 25) born in France; and Jno. McGracy (age 2) born in Ohio.

Listed in the ship manifest as coming from France were: Catherine Scheidel (age 14), she must have been traveling with Salome Kang (age 23) and Friederick/Friedrich Kang (age 4). Elisa Sailz (age 21).

Unknown Kuntz and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) Kang were married about 1854, in the United States.

Edward Richter and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) Kuntz were married about 1859 in New York.

The 1860 U. S. Census taken on June 9, 1860, shows Edward Richard (age 29) born in Germany, and with personal estate of $200 is a Shoe Maker, and is living in the 5th Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. Living with him are: Charlotte Richter (age 27) born in Germany; and Charlotte Richter (age 5) born in New York.

The 1860 U. S. Census taken on August 8, 1860, shows William Edwards (age 36) born in Wales with real estate of $2,300 and personal estate of $400 is a Farmer and is living in the Town of  Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Living with him is his wife, Lydeona Edwards (age 31) born in New York. Also living there are seven Edwards children: Anna M. Edwards (age 13) born in Wales; Mary J. Edwards (age 12) born in Ohio; Eliza R. Edwards (age 7) born in Ohio; Sarah A. Edwards (age 5) born in Wisconsin; David A. Edwards (age 4) born in Wisconsin; Wm. H. Edwards (age 2) born in Wisconsin; and George G. Edwards (age 1) born in Wisconsin.

Wm. H. Edwards and Harriet Eastman were married March 30, 1861, in Fond du Lac Co., WI.

The 1870 U. S. Census taken on August 8, 1870, shows Edward Richard (age 41) born in Prussia, and with real estate of $1,000 and personal estate of $300 is a Shoemaker, and is living in the Town of Oakfield, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Living with him are: Salome Richard (age 39) born in France, who is Keeping House; and Minnie Richard (age 9) born in New York.

The 1870 U. S. Census taken on July 27, 1870, shows William Edwards (age 46) born in Wales with real estate of $3,000 and personal estate of $900 is a Farmer and is living in the Town of  Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Living with him is his wife, Lida A. Edwards (age 42) born in New York, who does House Keeping. Also living there are ten Edwards children: Mary J. Edwards (age 21) born in Ohio; Elisa Edwards (age 17) born in Ohio; Sarah A. Edwards (age 15) born in Wisconsin; David A. Edwards (age 14) born in Wisconsin; William Edwards (age 12) born in Wisconsin; George C. Edwards (age 11) born in Wisconsin; Sherman Edwards (age 7) born in Wisconsin; Myron S. Edwards (age 5) born in Wisconsin; Rial D. Edwards (age 4) born in Wisconsin; and Francis Edwards (age 2) born in Wisconsin.

Lydia Ann (Wheaton/Whitton) Edwards died January 15, 1875, in Fond du Lac, WI, at age 46. Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

Edward Richter died February 16, 1876, in Fond du Lac Co., WI, at age 47. Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

William David Edwards and Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) (Kuntz ) Richter were married July 18, 1876, in Fond du Lac Co., WI.

ID: I23728; Name: Paul Immanuel Jungnik; Sex: M; Birth: 17 JUL 1879; [Baptism record:] Has date, father Carl Jungnik, mother Sara Kuntz. [Church burial record:] Has date, father Carl Jungnik, mother Sara Kuntz. Baptism: 17 JUL 1879 Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI, USA; [St. Peter's Church baptism record 1879 #41, v2 pp50-51:] Paul Immanuel, date; sponsors Amy Baldwin, Mary Green, Sara Edwards. Death: 10 SEP 1879 [Church burial record:] Has date; age 1 month, 26 days. Burial: 12 SEP 1879 Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI, USA [St. Peter's Church burial record 1879 #9, v2 p289. Cause: [Church burial record:] "an der Sommerkrankheit" (i.e., the summer sickness). Change Date: 15 OCT 2007

The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 21, 1880, shows William Edwards (age 56) born in Wales to Welsh-born parents is a Farmer with asthma and is living in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Living with him is his wife, Sarah Edwards (age 51) born in Baden to Baden-born parents, who is Keeping House. Also living there are his five unmarried children, all born in Wisconsin to Welsh and Ohio-born parents: George Edwards (age 20) who Works on Farm; Myron Edwards (age 16) who Works on Farm; Royal Edwards (age 13) who Works on Farm; Cora Edwards (age 10); and Hattie Edwards (age 7). Also living there: his married step-daughter: Sarah Jungnik (age 25) born in New Jersey to Baden-born parents, who is Keeping House; and his step granddaughter, Arabell Jungnik (age 4) born in Wisconsin to Prussian and New Jersey-born parents. Also living there is a widow, Sarah McDonald (age 60) born in Wales to Welsh-born parents is Keeping House. Other Watsons and Edwards also live there.

John William Mensch and Minnie Caroline Richter were married January 1, 1880, in the Town of Lamartine, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

In 1880, Carl Jungnik (a married Cigar Maker age 29) is living in Berlin, Green Lake Co., WI.

Carl Gustave Jungnik and Wilhemine Brunke were married May 25, 1891, in Outagamie Co., WI.

The 1895 Wisconsin State Census taken on June 20, 1895, shows Wm. Edwards is the Head of Household and is living in the 3rd Ward, City of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI. There are a total of 1 Male and 2 Females living there, all born in the United States.

The 1895 Wisconsin Enumeration of Soldiers and Sailors of the Late War shows William Edwards who served in Company D, 10th Vir., 3rd Ward, City of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 1, 1900, shows William Edward (age 76) born November 1823 in Wales to Welsh-born parents and having immigrated in 1847 and a Naturalized citizen owns his own home free of a mortgage and is living in the City of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI. Living with him is his wife of 23 years, Sarah Edward (age 67) born July 1832 in Germany to German-born parents and having immigrated in 1855, with both of the children born to her still alive. Sarah cannot read or write, but can speak English.

William David Edwards died February 17, 1901, in the Town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., WI, at age 77. Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

The 1910 U. S. Census taken on April 20, 1910, shows Sarah T. Edwards (age 79) born in Germany to German-born parents and having emigrated in 1853 is a widow with her Own Income and is living alone in her owned house at 355 Doty Street, 15th Ward, City of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

In 1910 Myron and Royal are bachelor Farmers living in North Dakota.

In 1920 Royal had married and was a Farmer in North Dakota.

The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 13, 1920, shows Sarah T. Edwards (age 89) born in Alsace-Lorraine, France to Alsace-Lorraine -born parents and a naturalized citizen is a widow living in her own house at 355 Doty Street, 15th Ward, City of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Living with her is her widowed daughter, Sarah Reithehibach/Reithchibad (age 61) born in New Jersey to Alsace-Lorraine -born parents.

Salom� Jane "Sarah" (Thomas) (Kang) (Kuntz) (Richter) Edwards died March 10, 1923, at her home in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI, at age 92. Buried in Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

Sarah Kuntz (born about 1855 in New Jersey) first married Carl Gustave Junknik (Unknown - about 1925; Ch. Paul Immanuel Jungnik: B. July 17, 1879 and died September 10, 1879. then married Theodor "Theodore" Reichenbach.

Mr. Jacob Shidel was of the frugal, honest German type and was in all respects a worthy neighbor and a good citizen. He is survived by his widow and two children, Fred C. Shidel of Amherst and Mrs. E. C. Ellis of this city. His oldest son, John A. Shidel, an engineer on the Wisconsin Central, was killed in a wreck at Des Plaines five years ago. He also leaves a brother and sister and half-sister, Adam Shidel of Milladore, Mrs. Elizabeth Burns of Shiocton, and Mrs. Sarah Edwards of Fond du Lac. Fred Shidel had been assisting in the care of his father since Friday. The brother and sister are here and Mrs. Edwards will also be present at the funeral. He was a member of the local Grand Army post.

David Edwards was born 1787 in Gellygaer, Glamorganshire, Wales, and died Apr 1842 in Monmouthshire, Wales.  He married ANN LAWRENCE ABT  1817, daughter of JENKIN LAWRENCE and SARAH POWELL.  She was born 1793 in Trevethin Parish (Pontypool) Monmouthshire, and died 28 Apr 1846 in Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Notes for DAVID EDWARDS:

David Edwards' will of 28 Feb 1842, brought by Ann Edwards and proved at Llandaff on 18 Aug 1842, gives to Ann Edwards, his wife two leasehold houses situated at Twynyrodin in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire together with all of his personal estate. After her death he gives to Jenkin and John Edwards the two leasehold houses and a sum of five pounds for each. Also gives to sons William Edwards and Edward Edwards and to daughters Sarah Edwards and Jane Edwards each the sum of thirty pounds. Also he bequeaths to Ann Edwards seventy pounds for her own use and absolute benefit. In his will David Edwards is shown of the parish of Gellygaer, a farmer.

... Speculative remarks:

  It is likely that David Edwards' father's name was John Edwards.  This inference is from the names given to his two eldest sons (twins) named John and Jenkin.  Jenkin was his wife's father's name (Jenkin Lawrence), hence it is reasonable to assume that David's father's name was John.  Also, a Rev. John Edwards (possibly a brother of David Edwards) was living in the Hafodrynys area in 1818 (his eldest son was baptised at St Iltyd's Oct 14, 1814.  Later this John Edwards was clerk in Bedwas, then curate at St Semmes in Bedwellty. 

  David Edwards may have been the innkeeper in Llantillo-Pertholey referenced in a bond record dated Sept 15 in the 55th year of the reign of King George III.  (Given the date 1760 as the start of George III reign, this works out to 1815.)  One of the two underwriters of the bond is John Edwards, tailor of Abergevenny. (John Edwards, tailor of Abergevenny, is mentioned as a suretor in a number of recognizance records.)

... Information sources:

Burial from Llanhilleth parish records

Wentland & Bryngwyn Manor copyhold title transfer D38 210-12,13,15

Abergevenny Hundred Lower Alehouse Recognizance, Gwent PRO QfAR 0006 p3.4

Notes for ANN LAWRENCE:

  Ann Lawrence and her three sisters (Elizabeth, Rachel, and Mary) were daughters of Jenkin Lawrence, a long-time resident of the Hafodyrynys area (extreme western part) of Trevethin parish.  The Lawrence family lived on the Penhewl-cochwidd (Upper reddish road) farm in the Cefn-crib area of the parish.  Because the Llanhilleth parish church, St Illtyd's, was much closer to the Lawrence farm than the parish church for Trevethin (St Craddoc's), the Lawrence family is as closely associated with the Llanhilleth parish as it is with Treventhin.  David Edwards married Ann Lawrence and operated the Star Inn in the 1820s (probably a Lawrence property), and later farmed land jointly owned by his wife Ann and her sisters Elizabeth (Mrs John Green), Rachel (Mrs John Harris), and Mary (Mrs David Jones), coheiresses of their father's land.  Ann Lawrence died in 1846, one year before five of her six children left for America. She is buried in St Illtyd's churchyard along with her husband and her sister Mary.

... Information sources:

Westland & Bryngwyn Manor copyhold title transfer D38 210-12,13,15

  Gwent Public Records Office Cumbran

Llanhilleth cemetary monument inscriptions (Gwent Historical Society)

Children of DAVID EDWARDS and ANN LAWRENCE are:

8.  WILLIAM DAVID³ EDWARDS (DAVID², JOHN?¹) was born 31 Oct 1823 in Wales, and died 17 Feb 1901 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  He married (1) (UNKNOWN) ABT  1847 in Wales.    He married (2) LYDIA (LYDIONA) ANN WHEATON ABT  1850 in Ohio.  She was born 25 Mar 1829 in New York State, and died 15 Jan 1875 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  He married (3) SARAH (EDWARDS) 19 Jun 1898.  She was born Jul 1832 in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, and died Aft. 1920.

Notes for WILLIAM DAVID EDWARDS:

William Edwards' father, David Edwards, was an innkeeper and farmer in Llanhilleth parish (Monmouthshire) in the 1820s/1830s.  Both David and his wife Ann Lawrence died in Wales: David in 1842, and Ann in 1846.  William probably came to American (to Ohio with one of his Morris uncles?) about 1846 and married Lydia A. (born in New York state), but William and Lydia found themselves back in Wales in 1847 when their first child, Anna M. was born.  (Note that Lydia is listed as Lydionia A. Edwards in the 1860 Fond du Lac County census.)  However, their next two daughters, Mary J. and Eliza R., were born in Ohio.  Sometime between 1853 and 1858 the family moved to Wisconsin, and established a 120 acre farm located between farms of his sister Sarah (Edwards) Watson and brother Edward.  Their children David A.(1856), Sarah A.(1858), George(1859), Sherman(1863), Myron(1865), Rial(1866), and Francis(1868) were all born in Wisconsin.  Lydia died sometime between 1870 and 1880 leaving William with a household of eight dependents.

In the Fond du Lac Atlas listing of 1880: Wm Edwards, (widower, family of nine, one employee), 120 acres on west line of Section 36, Eldorado west, Wisconsin.  The legal description of the Wm Edwards farm in late 1850s was: South quarter of SW quarter of Section 25 (40 acres) and North quarter of NW quarter of Section 36 (40 acres).  The description of the farm in 1872 (after brother Edward left for Iowa) added: South half of NW quarter of NW quarter of Section 36 (20 acres) and north half of SW quarter of NW quarter of Section 36 (20 acres).  The total farm was then 120 acres.  The farm home was located on the west edge of the property on the north/south county road near the line between sections 25 and 36.  

The 1900 census lists William Edwards as the spouse (not head of house) with wife Sarah, living at 355 Doty St.  The 1920 census shows Sarah T. Edwards and daughter Sarah Reithehibad (age 61, born in New Jersey) at that address.

        hansen

Children of WILLIAM EDWARDS and (UNKNOWN) are:

                   i.    ANNA M.⁴ EDWARDS, b. ABT  1847, Wales.

                  ii.    MARY J. EDWARDS, b. ABT  1848, Ohio.

Children of WILLIAM EDWARDS and LYDIA WHEATON are:

                 iii.    ELIZA RACHEL⁴ EDWARDS, b. 19 Jul 1852, Akron, Massilon County, Ohio; m. CHARLES N. ETTER, 2 Dec 1895, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.

                 iv.    SARAH ALVINA EDWARDS, b. 10 Nov 1854, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin; m. AUGUSTUS L. HANSEN, 3 Jun 1876, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; b. ABT  1855, Germany.

                  v.    DAVID ALBERT EDWARDS, b. 22 Apr 1856, Wisconsin; d. 25 Jan 1875, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

                 vi.    WILLIAM HENRY EDWARDS, b. 9 Dec 1857; d. 22 Dec 1874.

                vii.    GEORGE IRVING EDWARDS, b. 24 Jul 1859, Wisconsin; m. DELIA E. (EDWARDS), 12 Mar 1885, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin; b. Jul 1858, Wisconsin.

               viii.    SHERMAN S. EDWARDS, b. 6 Oct 1862, Kirkwood, Wisconsin; d. Bef. 1920; m. RUBY ALICE ARMITAGE, 29 Dec 1898, Oakfield, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; b. Neosho, Wisconsin.

                 ix.    MYRON S. EDWARDS, b. 10 Apr 1864, El Dorado Twp, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin.

                  x.    ROYAL DAVID EDWARDS, b. 1866, Wisconsin.

                 xi.    FRANCIS EDWARDS, b. ABT  1868, Wisconsin.

More About William David Edwards:

Arr/USA: Aug 1847, Phila PA

Burial: Estabrook Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wis

Chrstng: 25 Apr 1824, Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire

Comment 1: Res: Wales(1847), Ohio(1848), Ohio(1853)

Comment 2: Res: Wisconsin (1858, 1860, 1870)

More About Lydia (Lydiona) Ann (Wheaton):

Burial: Estabrook Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wis

Sarah Kuntz (born about 1855 in New Jersey) first married Carl Gustave Junknik (Unknown - about 1925; Ch. Paul Immanuel Jungnik: B. July 17, 1879 and died September 10, 1879. then married Unknown Reithehibad

Mr. Jacob Shidel was of the frugal, honest German type and was in all respects a worthy neighbor and a good citizen. He is survived by his widow and two children, Fred C. Shidel of Amherst and Mrs. E. C. Ellis of this city. His oldest son, John A. Shidel, an engineer on the Wisconsin Central, was killed in a wreck at Des Plaines five years ago. He also leaves a brother and sister and half-sister, Adam Shidel of Milladore, Mrs. Elizabeth Burns of Shiocton, and Mrs. Sarah Edwards of Fond du Lac. Fred Shidel had been assisting in the care of his father since Friday. The brother and sister are here and Mrs. Edwards will also be present at the funeral. He was a member of the local Grand Army post.

This story is about six Welch immigrants, the Edwards children, who came to America in the 1840s. Four of them settled in newly-created Eldorado Township where they established farms and raised their families in pioneer conditions. We, two of the many descendants of these families, tell their story as a memorial to their industry and perserverance in attaining the American dream.

Six of David and Ann Edwards' children reached adulthood. Their eldest sons were twins, John and Jenkin, born in 1818. The two were named for their paternal and maternal grandfathers. Next were Sarah (1819) and William (1823) - both would come to figure prominently in the history of Eldorado Township. And finally there were Edward (1828) and Jane (1833).

The David Edwards family lived in the Hafodyrynys community, which is located in the western-most part of Monmouthshire - a few miles west of Pontypool and dozen miles north of the Bristol channel. This is the "valley" area of Monmouthshire. Deep valleys cut down hundreds of feet into the surrounding plateau to form a unique topography.

Although Hafodyrynys fell within Trevethin Parish, the parish for Pontypool and its immediate area, the Edwards family usually attended the closer Llanhilleth parish church (St Illtyd's), which was located only a mile or so away.

David Edwards and his wife, the former Ann Lawrence, started out as tavern-keepers, first in Llantilo-Pertholey (a few miles north of Pontypool), then at the Star public house in the Hafodyrynys community, a property owned by Ann’s father, Jenkin Lawrence. Later, David was mostly involved in working the Jenkin Lawrence farms, which were near the Star on the Penhoelcochwidd Road. In the early 1840s, John, William and Edward (by then young adults) worked as journeymen in a local foundry, the Victoria Iron Works, situated a few miles to the north. By 1845 both David and Ann had passed away and the children collectively decided to try their fortunes in America. First William ventured forth with his new wife and child, then the others followed, all together on the sailing ship Columbian, leaving Liverpool on June 14, 1847, and arriving in Philadelphia almost two months later, on August 4th. The Edwards on board were John (age 28) and his young wife, Jemima (24), and their one year old infant, David.; John�s twin, Jenkin; Sarah (27); Edward (19); and Jane (13).

The Columbian was a two-year-old, three-masted sailing ship built in Maine, 120 feet long and 27 feet wide. On this voyage she carried 158 passengers. Her first mate was a handsome young man named James Watson who was born in Kent, England, but raised in Oneida, New York. He and Sarah fell in love during the voyage and they married in Philadelphia on the 4th of August, the day the ship reached port.

The newlywed James and Sarah, with young Jane in tow, immediately left for Fond du Lac to try their skill at opening new lands. In a few years they had cleared and cultivated a total of 320 acres.

Sarah's brothers John, Jenkin and Edward joined their brother William in northeast Ohio where several families they had known back in Wales had settled. These people, the Morris families, were involved in the coal business. Two of these friends, John Morton Morris and his wife Ann, had operated the Carpenters Arms public house, which was located adjacent to the Llanhilleth church. Their daughter, Mary Morris, later became the wife of Edward Edwards.

Brother John stayed in the northeast Ohio area where he and his wife Jemima (Rees) reared their seven children. John worked in the coal mining industry in various capacities and served during the Civil War in Company A of the 104th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Jenkin, John's twin, died in Ohio shortly after arriving there.

After a few years in Ohio, both William and Edward decided to join their sister and brother-in-law in Wisconsin, and they purchased farms just south of the Watson property. All three farms were located about four miles east of the town of Eldorado, a half mile north of Highway "OO" on the east side of Seles Road.

The Watsons became established in the community - James was Eldorado town treasurer for seven years, and he was chairman of the town board when he died in 1860. The couple raised seven children, several becoming prominent citizens in the town of Fond du Lac. After James' death Sarah married again, this time to Archibald McDonald, a Civil War veteran from Iowa.

William and his second wife, Lydia, raised Ann and Mary, daughters of his first wife, and eight children of their own marriage on their Eldorado farm. One of their children, Sarah Alvina Edwards, married August Hansen. The Hansens raised a family of twelve children on their farm in Oakfield township.

Shortly after arriving in Wisconsin, Edward Edwards served in the Civil War as a private in the Wisconsin 1st Regiment. After that, he stayed only a short while in Eldorado, leaving in 1870 with his wife Ann and their children for new opportunities in Nebraska, then later in Ayrshire, Iowa. This family raised a brood of seven children, three born on their Eldorado farm.

And what about Jane Edwards? She never married, choosing instead to live with the family of her dear sister, Sarah. When Sarah died, just after the turn of the century, Jane lived the rest of her life in Fond du Lac with one of Sarah's daughters.

As the last century came to a close the Watson and Edwards farms passed to other hands and most of the children’s families drifted out of the immediate area. But they all carried with them the strong sense of hard work and responsibility that came from leading successful lives on the American frontier.

Submitted and authored by:
Robert Edwards, descendant of Edward Edwards and Beverly (Hanson) Oakley, descendant of William Edwards