Edwards, Thomas

(from Beers and Anoka Farms)

Thomas Edwards (1819 - 1885) came to Ottawa area from Ireland with his parents in 1822. In 1837 he arrived in Warwick Twp., where he settled on Lot 25, Con. 3. He eventually cleared 250 acres of land. He served the government in the Rebellion of 1837, then again served during the Fenian Raid. Thomas Edwards married Susan Ward (1834 -) in 1859. They had seven children: Samuel W., Ezra A., Walter, Joseph W., Ida, Herbert and Mary. 

The oldest son, Samuel W. (1860 -) was born in Warwick Twp. and attending school there as well. He bred Clydesdale horses and raised Shorthorn cattle and sheep on his farm at Lot 24, Con. 2 until 1898, when he moved to Watford to buy and ship cattle. He returned to his farm in 1902. In 1890 Samuel married Amelia Houlton. Their four children were: Bertha A., Thomas H., Clifford Henry and Florence I. 

Samuel's brother Ezra A. (1865 - 1947) also farmed in Warwick Twp. Ezra and his wife Elizabeth raised six children: Alan W., T. Alex., Frank, Don W., Florence E. and Mrs. Leslie Harrison. 

It was with the Ezra A. Edwards family that the Anoka Farm story unfolded. The oldest son, Alan, was able to buy a farm under the Soldier Settlement Board following World War I. In 1926 T. Alex Edwards formed a partnership with his brother Alan W. They called it the Edwards Brothers and started breeding Aberdeen-Angus cattle in earnest. Initially Alan purchased the foundation animals; Alex had the family expertise in handling the animals; Frank was developing interests in another direction; and Don was too young to take part in the management of the farm. By 1936 Alex took over Alan's interests and Don became the second partner. Alan went into the pharmaceutical business. 

The Edwards Brothers measured their success by taking part annually in the Royal Winter Fair, starting in 1922. By 1950 they had bred and shown the grand champion bull at twelve of eighteen shows and the winner in the remaining years was a bull sired by an Edwards-bred bull. They showed cattle at the Canadian National Exhibit from 1927 to 1960. If they were not showing cattle, the Edwards were judging Aberdeen-Angus. Alex travelled greatly, from Perth, Scotland to state fairs to the Chicago International Show. 

Eventually the partnership between T. Alex and his brother Don was terminated. Don and his wife Jean continued to breed Aberdeen-Angus near Watford, Ont. He used Anoka W to identify the animals bred by him. Alex and his wife Marion and their four daughters used the original Anoka as their identity on their farm six miles north of London, Ont. 

Chapter 24 of 25 - Edwards, Thomas

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