History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

324 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
also devoted ten years to railroad work in Iowa but during this
time still continued liis business in Am boy.
In 1879 Mr. Edwards was elected county treasurer but the
board of supervisors questioned the sufficiency of his bond, although
his bondsmen were sevei'al of the most wealthy farmers of
Lee county. On referring the case to the states attorney he held
that they could not accept a new bond after the 1st of December,
and as they had assembled at the last moment no time was left
to make a new bond and thus the office was lost. In 1882 Mr.
E(l\vards was elected sheriff of Lee county and during the four
years which he spent as the incumbent in that position he resided
in Dixon. In the meantime his son conducted his livery business
in Amboy until the expiration of the father's term of office. During
the Civil war Mr. Edwards furnished the government with
many horses. He was an extensive dealer in horses and in addition
to that business he successfully carried on farming, owning
over five hundred acres of good land. While carrying on his
individual business affairs he likewise filled many offices, serv-
ing for an extended period as county supervisor, as collector of
city taxes and for several terms as mayor of Amboy. In his
political views he was an earnest republican and at all times was
public-spirited and active in support of interests pertaining to
the welfare and progress of town and county.
In 185,3 Mr. Edwards was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth
Saul, a daughter of Thomas Saul of Forreston, Illinois, and
they became the parents of eight childi-en, of whom four died in
childhood. Those surviving are: William J. and James A., the
former engaged in the livery business and the latter in the ice
business in Amboy; John H., who is a traveling salesman; and
Isaac F., living in Dixon. Mr. Edwards' death caused deep
rogiet to all who knew him, for he was one of the well known citi-
zens of Lee county, held in high esteem by all.
HARTMAN M. KERSTEN.
Hartman M. Kersten is now living retired in Ashton, but for
manv vears he was a most active, energetic business man, carrying
on general farming and the raising of blooded stock. He is
still the owner of a valuable f.-nin property upon which is a large
grain elevator. Lee county numbers him among her native sons,