JAMES M. EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards & Cavens, Camden, Illinois, general merchants, was born in the northern part of Greene county, Illinois, September 12, 1839. He was the son of Isham B. and Sarah (Day) Edwards, natives of Virginia and Kentucky. The father of our subject went to Kentucky when a young man, where he married and in the winter of 1830 came to Illinois and settled in Greene county, entering land and engaging in farming, and he there passed his remaining years. He died in February 1882, aged seventy-nine years. His wife died at the age of sixty-two years. Father of subject owned over 1,000 acres of land, and at one time he was a large stock raiser. They had thirteen sons and three daughters; twelve of whom grew up. The subject was the thirteenth child. He was raised on the farm, and in August, 1857, was married to Miss Melinda E. Hoots, daughter of David Hoots, of Scott county. Our subject, after his marriage, purchased land and pursued farming in Greene county until 1862, in August, of which year he enlisted and was mustered into service with Company H, Ninety-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for two years and nine months as a private soldier. He was in the battles of Elizabethtown, Mabeto, Richmond, Red River expedition and many other battles. After the war he resumed farming in Greene county for one year, and then sold out his farm and went to the Cherokee lands in Indian Nation, and one year later he returned to Greene county, and two years later came to Schuyler county, and purchased 160 acres of land, which he improved further and sold. He has since improved ten farms in Schuyler county, numbering at least 2,000 acres. He has been a hard worker and has improved more farms than any other man in Schuyler county. He owned a sawmill for eight years, and for thirty-two years has run the mill for threshing machines. He has at all times been ready to engage in any business which would promise to make any money. He has been at all times very successful in all of his enterprises. He now owns 160 acres of land, and property in Camden. In 1891, he engaged in his present business. He dealt in live stock for twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have had eight children, six are living: Sarah J. married Harvey Bleckledge of Henderson county, Illinois; Etta married George Watt and resides in Camden Township; Trissie married Nicholas Notson of Schuyler county; Ollie Belle married Amos Cavens, her father's partner; Mary Emeline and Daisie D. In politics, Mr. Edwards is a Republican. He has been Justice of the Peace and other local offices. He is a member of the Camden Lodge, No. 648, A.F. & A.M. He is also a member of the G.A.R. Post in Brooklyn.