Biography
Earle Edwards was born to Mr. J S. Edwards and was the brother of Carrie B. Edwards. His hometown was Nevada, Iowa.
Earle graduated from Iowa State College in 1915 with a degree in Animal Husbandry.
He enlisted in aviation as a private in March 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was then assigned to the ground school in aviation in Austin, Texas, after which he was transferred to Dallas, Texas for flight school. There he died of pneumonia following the flu on October 22, 1918.
From Nevada Evening Journal October 23, 1918 (front page)
ANOTHER NEVADA SOLDIER DIED IN SOUTHERN CAMP
EARL J. EDWARDS OF AVIATION CORPS PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY MORNING.
For the third time within a week the flags of Nevada flying at half mast, significant of the death of a Nevada boy who has given his life while in the service of his country, in training in an army camp of naval training station.
Earl J. Edwards of the Aviation Section of the Signal corps, died at a hospital at Camp Dick, Dallas, Texas, Tuesday morning at 2:15 o'clock and the body is expected here probably tonight or Thursday morning. In case the body arrives here as expected, it is very probable that the funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at the 3:00 o'clock.
The funeral which will necessarily be a private one, will be held from the Edwards home of East avenue south east, where the relatives and very near friends will gather to listen to prayer and a few words from the pastor, Rev. R. M. Shipman of the Methodist church. Interment will be at the Nevada cemetery and will probably be under the auspices of the Masonic lodge of this city, of which he was a member and with such military features as will be possible.
Enlisted in January.
Cadet Edwards who had been engaged in farm management and similar illness relative to animal husbandry for some time had just been offered the management of a large farm near Petersburg, Virginia, the early part of the year, when he heard the call of his country and humanity, and answered it by giving up thoughts of the position and enlisting in the services at St. Louis on January 21, 1918. He chose the Aviation section of the Signal Corps as his line of military activities.
He had been working for this estate at Mt. Pleasant for some time and he gave up the work there and returned home expecting to be called into the service at once. In this he was disappointed for some months and time wore away slowly with him until he received his call to report for service at Austin, Texas. During the time that he was awaiting his call he took some work in wireless at Iowa State college and thus further perfected himself for the service in which he was to enter.
Finished Course on Schedule.
His call finally came on June 7 and he went to Austin where he entered the school of Military Aeronautics, which course he finished in the required thirteen weeks and graduated from there with high honors, his markings being very complimentary.
Upon his graduation from there on September 5, after having finished the ground work of the aviation course, he came home and spent a furlough of 13 days with his parents and other relatives and friends. Returning to Austin, he was transferred to some flying field, that he was stricken with the dreaded epidemic influenza, which finally developed into pneumonia and claimed his life on the morning of October 22, after an illness of a couple weeks.
Mother Was With Him.
As soon as his conditions was realized to be serious, a message was dispatched to his parents in this city and his mother, Mrs. John S. Edwards, accompanied by Mr. J. M. Chrisman, hastened to Dallas to be near him and assist in every way possible in his care.
For a time it appeared that he was rallying and that the crisis was over and latter part of the week Mr. Chrisman left there and returned home. Letters received from there indicated that he was improving and it was thought that he would recover.
Monday, however, he took a turn for the worse and sister, Miss Carrie Edwards of Aberdeen, S. D., received a message summoning her to Dallas. She started for there upon reaching here that night over the Rock Island, stopped off to await a faster train, when a message announcing the death interrupted her. The mother had remained with him until he died and she with a military escort, will accompany the body back to this city.
Was Native of Iowa.
Earl J. Edwards was born at Dunlap, Iowa, September 4, 1890 and came with his parents to Story county in 1892, when they located on a farm south of the city, later moving in to Nevada. He attended the local schools and graduated from the Nevada high school with the class of 1908.
Following his graduation from the high school he entered Iowa State college as a student in the Animal Husbandry department and finished there in 1915. After he had finished his college work he at first accepted a position as manager of a large ranch out near Abilene, Kansas, where he spent one year. Leaving there in December of 1916 he came back to Iowa State college where he was engaged until June in some experimental work for the Extension department.
It was in June of 1916 that he went down to Mt. Pleasant and took over the position of herdsman on the state farm, where he was engaged when he received the offer from Virginia and at the time of his enlistment.
Leaves Aged Parents.
He leaves his aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Edwards of this city, one brother, Will E. Edwards also of this city and sister Miss Carrie Edwards who holds a responsible position in the schools of Aberdeen, S. D. His death also falls as a sad blow upon Miss Ruth Chrisman of this city who was to have become his wife. He also leaves other relatives and a wide circle of friends who will be deeply grieved at his being so suddenly taken off just in the very prime of his youthful vigor and life's work.
Just precious to his enlistment he had accepted the position as farm manager down in Virginia and he and Miss Chrisman had planned on their wedding with the southern trip as a honeymoon and their home in that state.
Was Splendid Young Man.
Earl was a young man who stood high in the opinion of the people who knew him. He was of an even and genial disposition and was universally liked. It was not however easy for him to talk about himself and of his doings and inner feelings he did not readily speak. His record as a student in high school and college, as occupant of a responsible executive position, and later in the exceedingly exacting school of aeronautics reflected great credit upon him but he was not inclined to enlarge upon it. As he was reserved in these things so naturally was it as to religion. His friends all knew that he was a man of clean character and of upright habits, yet it was not easy for him to express his religious feelings. Questioned by his mother not long before his death he declared that he had committed himself to God and knew that he had been accepted. He will long be remembered as a splendid young man of unimpeachable character and fine ideals.