MAJOR EDWARDS DIED SUDDENLY
Popular Postoffice Official Passed Away in Harness
Major John F. Edwards, one of the best known citizens of Atlanta, was stricken with apoplexy while engaged at his work in the post office yesterday morning shortly after 10 o'clock, and died instantly. Major Edwards was in the act of writing out a check in accordance with his duties as head bookkeeper at the post office when he was suddenly attacked by a stroke that felled him to the floor. An effort was made to catch him before he fell, but his body sank to the floor, and although immediately loving arms were around him, it was perfectly evident that death had come instantly. The body was immediately removed to the undertaking parlors of Barclay & Brandon, and later to the home of his brother in law, Dr. J. C. Olmstead.
Major Edwards for very many years has been one of the most familiar figures in the life of Atlanta. During this time he has enjoyed an exceptional large acquaintance and those who were nearest to him in his life will tell you that he was actually looked upon by thousands as their friend.
Major Edwards was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1832, and was 72 years old at the time of his death yesterday. His life was one of long and helpful activity, and was a real and important part in the history of the south. He was in business in Louisville at the time the war between the states broke out, and immediately joined the cause of the confederacy when he enlisted as a private in the Citizens' Guard of Louisville. His powers as a business man and an executive officer were made so apparent with his first promotion as a non-commissioned officer that he was soon afterwards appointed to the staff of General Lafayette McClaws as major of commissary.
In this capacity he developed exceptional ability, and by special request was transferred to the staff of General Longstreet, and was associated in this capacity with the army of northern Virginia during the entire period of the war. As major of commissary he was in all of the principal engagements in the eastern and Shenandoah valleys and in the march into Maryland and Pennsylvania. At both Fredericksburg and Gettysburg he won the especial approval of his superior officers, and perhaps most of all, in that retreat from Gettysburg which devolved such wonderful hardships on the commissary department that it has gone down in military history as a precedent. On and on through the dark days of the latter period of the war Major Edwards still continued with the army of the northern Virginia, and it was not until the very close that he surrendered along with the other patriots of that brave band at Appomattox.
Immediately after the war Major Edwards returned to his old home in Louisville, where he again engaged in business. But in 1866 he decided to come to Georgia, and from that he made the Empire State of the South his home. He first came to Atlanta and entered the mercantile business in this city at a time when Atlanta was just rising from the ruins and ashes left by Sherman and his men.
Some time after making Atlanta his home he went to a farm near Decatur which he purchased. But while he enjoyed the rural life, the old spirit of Atlanta with which he had been so prominently associated could not be satisfied, and he returned to Atlanta. It was during the term of Dr. Fox as postmaster that he received the appointment in the post office under President Cleveland. Major Edwards was always a staunch and loyal democrat and, although he aspired to no political preferment himself, there was never a time when he was not ready to work hard in the interest of a friend.
From the very first day he entered the post office it has been to share the friendship of every one with whom he was associated. All partisan politics were forgotten, and there was not one who did not feel for the major a feeling of respect and love that is the highest crown of those who live to see the three score years and ten. And it is doubted if Major Edwards had any more ardent admirers or stronger friends than Postmaster Blodgett, and other republican members of the Atlanta post office department. At the post office today the sincere regret and the great sorrow on every side showed the great love in which the major was held, and each and every one in every department had something to say of admiration for the highest type of the southern gentleman who had been taken away so suddenly.
Major Edwards was ever a hard worker, and it seemed characteristic of his death, as it had been of his entire life, that when the time came he should be found at his post carrying out the duty of his office. A true soldier in the days of war and during the trying ordeals that came with the days of reconstruction, he was the ideal citizen of peace.
Major Edwards married Miss McGill, of Winchester, one of the most prominent families of Virginia. His wife died some time ago, and there were no children. He was one of the best known and best liked members of Atlanta Camp, U. C. V. No. 159, and had a host of friends among the veterans all over the country. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Atlanta Constitution, 16 December 1904,
page 13 (findagrave.com)