Will was one of 3 children born to John Bastian Edwards and Laura Orinda Boardman (McEwen) Edwards of Mauston. His siblings were Laura Orinda Edwards and John Boardman Edwards. His father was a physician in Mauston. Will was a 1903 graduate of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He and Persis Amelia Wells married in 1913 and moved to Mason, NV where he was the first doctor at Mason Hospital, Lyon County. His patients were mostly railroad workers, miners & local Paiute Indians. In about 1938 his wife Persis and only surviving child, William Jr., moved to San Rafael. William Jr. graduated from Stanford Medical School and after WWII, father and son shared a medical office at 1010 B St. in San Rafael for many years (findagrave.com)