NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

An enterprising citizen of the younger generation in Dover is Thomas K. EDWARDS, who is proprietor and manager of the drug store, known under the name of EDWARDS Drug Store at 17 ½ West Blackwell street. He was born in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, June 4, 1883, son of William and Ellen (COURTNEY) EDWARDS, the former of whom died in 1890 and the latter of whom is now a resident of Dover.

William EDWARDS was born in county Wexford, Ireland, 1842, and he was educated in the place of his nativity. He was the youngest in order of birth of the children born to Thomas and Lucy (MURPHY) EDWARDS, who lived and died in Ireland. Following are the names of their children:

· Thomas,

· Patrick,

· James,

· Lawrence,

· John,

· Anna,

· Stacia,

· William.

William EDWARDS was a contracting mason by occupation and he spent many years of his business life in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company. He was a sober, industrious workman and at the time when death called him was the owner of a beautiful residence in Dover. He never took an active part in politics and found his greatest pleasure in home life, in the society of his family and friends. He was a devout communicant of the Catholic church and was generous in his contributions to its welfare. February 19, 1876, William EDWARDS married Ellen COURTNEY, who was likewise born in county Wexford, Ireland, and who came to America with her parents at the age of twenty-one years. She is a daughter of Henry and Mary (ROSITER) COURTNEY, both natives of Ireland and the former of English descent. Mr. COURTNEY was a gardener by occupation. To him and his wife were born nine children:

· Catherine,

· Margaret,

· Marjorie,

· John,

· Peter,

· Henry,

· Mary,

· David,

· Ellen.

Mr. and Mrs. EDWARDS became the parents of four children:

· Lucy S., a popular teacher in the public schools of Dover, as is also

· Mary L;

· Thomas K., the immediate subject of this review;

· Harry W., in the employ of the RICHARDSON-BOYNTON Company at Dover.

Thomas K. EDWARDS passed his boyhood and youth in Dover and he was graduated in the local high school as a member of the class of 1901. On leaving school he began to work for KILGORE & WHITE, druggists at Dover, and he continued in their employ for the ensuing seven years, during which time he pursued a course in pharmacy in the New Jersey College of Pharmacy, at Newark. He worked and attended lectures at the same time and in 1907 was graduated in the above institution with the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy. In September, 1911, he opened a drug store at No. 17 ½ West Blackwell street, Dover, and here he is now doing a fine business. He is progressive and energetic and up-to-date in all his methods. In politics he maintains an independent attitude and his religious faith is in harmony with the tenets of the Catholic church. His fraternal connections are with the B. P. O. E., the K. of C., and the R. A., all of Dover.

Mr. EDWARDS married, July 25, 1911, Stella E. ALLEN, a native of Netcong, Morris county, New Jersey, daughter of Hugh and Stella (BRENNAN) ALLEN, the former of whom was for many years a prominent contractor and builder in this county. Mr. and Mrs. ALLEN were the parents of four children, namely:

· Stella E., wife of Mr. EDWARDS;

· Mary;

· Alice, wife of Jeremiah P. MEADE;

· James, deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. EDWARDS have no children. They take an active part in the social affairs of Dover and are good entertainers in their own home.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

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