Degree Recipient

Life Experience

William Kirkpatrick Edwards entered the freshman class of IU at age fifteen, graduating with his bachelor’s degree at age nineteen. Two years later, he received his Bachelor of Laws from Transylvania University in Kentucky, having been a pupil of Judge Mayes and Judge Robertson. Then he moved to Terre Haute and started practicing law. In 1845, he was elected to the Indiana State Legislature, serving for three subsequent sessions. He was distinguished as a parliamentarian and was known as a hard worker.

Edwards was a Post Grand Master of the Order of Odd Fellows and was once considered the most widely cited Odd Fellow in Indiana. He was designated by philanthropist Chauncey Rose as executor of his will, entrusted with carrying out various charitable and educational endowments.

In 1853, Terre Haute was organized as a city; Edwards became its first mayor, an office he held for two terms. In 1855, he was appointed a member of the IU Board of Trustees, serving as president from 1855 to 1857. He served on the Board until his death in 1878.

In 1860, he was a presidential elector for Indiana. After the Civil War ended, Edwards was given the honorary designation of colonel.

Edwards delivered the address at the laying of the corner stone for Rose Polytechnic Institute. He later served as its secretary. In 1873, he returned to the state legislature and became Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives. He was also director of the First National Bank of Terre Haute, the Terre Haute & Chicago Railroad, and the Terre Haute Indianapolis & Vandalia Railroad, and president of the Terre Haute Draw Bridge Company.

Interesting Anecdote

At Edwards’ funeral, the Terre Haute Gazette reported that “fully 20,000 people” filled Woodlawn Cemetery.The Indianapolis Journal echoed that it was an unusually huge public demonstration.

References

1. Wylie
2. Findagrave.com
3. Weekly Wabash Express 08/17/1864